BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings have taken place between his Department and representatives of the Trades Union Congress on the EU Agency Workers Directive.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 15 October 2009
	Since October 2008, when the EU Agency Workers Directive was agreed, my officials have met a wide range of organisations to discuss implementation of the Directive. This includes National consultation events held in London and the regions as part of the public consultation exercise held between 8 May and 31 July 2009. Officials have also had a number of bilateral discussions with representatives of not only the Trades Union Congress but also organisations representing hirers and agencies to explore specific issues arising from the consultation paper in more detail.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Phil Willis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had on the terms of proposals put by the Communication Workers Union to Royal Mail on 13 October 2009 on the postal services dispute; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Ministers have met with both parties over the past weeks to listen to their views and to encourage dialogue but have made it very clear that strikes are not the way to resolve differences or safeguard the future of our postal service. It is for Royal Mail's management and the union to resolve the dispute through talks.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Phil Willis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to resolve the industrial dispute affecting Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: I have remained in close contact with the unions and Royal Mail management throughout this dispute. Our message to them has been clear -strikes are not the way to resolve differences or safeguard the future of our postal services and we urge them to resolve all issues through dialogue.

Royal Mail: Pensions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the size of the Royal Mail pension fund deficit is; what it has been in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The current size of the accounting deficit as reported in the Royal Mail's 2008-09 report and accounts is £6.8 billion. The last formal actuarial valuation of the pension deficit was given as £3.4 billion in March 2006. The trustees are undertaking the next triennial actuarial valuation, which started in March 2009 and will need to finish by June 2010. The following table shows both accounting and actuarial pension deficit values since March 2003, which is when the scheme first fell into deficit.
	Funding of the pension scheme remains an operational matter between Royal Mail and the trustees.
	
		
			  Royal Mail pension deficit figures since financial year 2002-03 
			  £ billion 
			  Financial year  Accounting deficit  Actuarial deficit 
			 2002-03 4.7 2.5 
			 2003-04 4.4 - 
			 2004-05 4.0 - 
			 2005-06 5.6 3.4 
			 2006-07 5.0 - 
			 2007-08 2.9 - 
			 2008-09 6.8 - 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £100 million

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service: Manpower

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in each department and agency of the Civil Service in 1996-97.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson, dated October 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in each department and agency of the Civil Service in 1996-97. (290136)
	The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by each government department and agency in 1996-7 has been published by Cabinet Office and is available in hardcopy from the House of Commons Library.
	An online edition of Civil Service Statistics 1997 is available at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/Assets/css97_tcm6-2540.pdf

Cybercrime

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what procedures the Government have in place to respond to a cyber attack against  (a) Government networks and  (b) the networks of private companies comprising UK critical national infrastructure; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Her Majesty's Government have a wide ranging set of measures in place to protect the United Kingdom from all forms of electronic attack including cyber-terrorism and cyber crime, and to respond appropriately.
	These measures include:
	The establishment in September of the Office of Cyber Security (OCS) and the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC), to direct and coordinate the new national cyber security strategy.
	CPNI, The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities companies and banks. It also runs CSIRTUK, the Combined Security Incident Response Team (UK), which advises partners in industry who operate elements of the national infrastructure, how to manage the response to incidents.
	GovCertUK, part of GCHQ, works closely with CSIRTUK; it provides warnings, alerts and assistance in resolving serious IT incidents for the public sector.
	When GovCertUK becomes aware of an incident it provides the affected Department (usually through its IT Security Officer) with all the available information and offers relevant advice to help resolve the situation. On occasion, and as necessary, GovCertUK also provides on-site support to affected departments.
	CESG, also part of GCHQ, provides government departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.
	In addition:
	All Government Departments have access to the Government Secure Intranet (GSi) which securely connects around 200 Government Departments and Agencies.
	The Government's Data Handling Review published in June 2008 mandated a number of minimum data security measures for HMG such as penetration testing of Government IT systems.

Cybercrime

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government are taking to achieve common standards of cyber security between EU member states; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The Government are working closely with the Commission, other European member states and ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency) to increase levels of security and resilience in the communications sector at many different levels. This includes collaborative efforts aimed at increasing European cooperation on policy to enhance cyber security, such as developing European priorities, principles and guidelines on long-term internet resilience and stability.
	The Government also takes an active part in major standards bodies (including ETSI-the European Telecommunications Standards Institute), organisations and discussions concerned with ICT standards, to ensure that processes are in place to create an effective standards regime in this area.

Cybercrime

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Government has a framework in place to share cyber incident event data with  (a) the private sector and  (b) relevant research institutions; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: CPNI, the Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure, runs the Combined Security Incident Response Team (CSIRTUK) a service that provides advice for the private sector on managing responses to electronic incidents.
	Details of security incidents reported to CPNI are treated in the strictest confidence.
	CPNI facilitates regular forums with private and public sector organisations, including research bodies, during which electronic security issues and any appropriate mitigating measures are discussed. These meetings are held under agreed confidentiality rules among participants.
	General, non-classified protective advice and best practice about countering the threat from cyber attacks is also provided on the CPNI website.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent on the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services in each year since its creation; and what the projected spending on the centre is in each of the next five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services was created in 2008-09 and spent £2.783 million. Projected spending is currently £5.573 million for 2009-10 and £5.466 million for 2010-11. The grant expires on 31 March 2011.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the projected cost is of the annual review of ContactPoint in 2009-10.

Dawn Primarolo: ContactPoint security arrangements are under a continuous review and its full security accreditation will be validated annually. The current projected cost of the annual security penetration test is £50,000, which will be met from within the overall £44 million annual operating budget for ContactPoint.

Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) infant,  (b) primary and  (c) secondary classes in each local authority area have at least 30 pupils; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Class size information for 2009 can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000843/index.shtml
	The latest available information can be found in the following table. Class size legislation allows for classes of up to 30. Our usual measure of large classes is 31 or more pupils.
	
		
			  Classes as Taught( 1) : Number of classes with 30 pupils( 2)  or more by local authority area, position in January 2008 (Final), England 
			   Key Stage 1 classes( 3)  Maintained primary school( 4)  classes  State-funded secondary school( 4, 5)  classes 
			 England 14,170 42,180 18,250 
			 
			 City of London x x 0 
			 Camden 50 110 10 
			 Greenwich 60 170 70 
			 Hackney 70 130 40 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 60 100 40 
			 Islington 40 90 50 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 20 50 20 
			 Lambeth 90 190 40 
			 Lewisham 100 180 40 
			 Southwark 60 130 40 
			 Tower Hamlets 110 220 50 
			 Wandsworth 80 150 60 
			 Westminster 40 70 20 
			 Barking and Dagenham 50 140 50 
			 Barnet 160 370 80 
			 Bexley 110 310 160 
			 Brent 160 350 80 
			 Bromley 150 380 130 
			 Croydon 190 430 100 
			 Ealing 180 350 90 
			 Enfield 200 460 100 
			 Haringey 120 250 10 
			 Harrow 100 230 30 
			 Havering 80 260 90 
			 Hillingdon 90 230 80 
			 Hounslow 110 220 90 
			 Kingston upon Thames 80 170 60 
			 Merton 70 130 40 
			 Newham 100 220 110 
			 Redbridge 200 490 130 
			 Richmond upon Thames 100 160 30 
			 Sutton 90 250 100 
			 Waltham Forest 130 280 80 
			 Birmingham 570 1,360 300 
			 Coventry 110 270 100 
			 Dudley 60 200 120 
			 Sandwell 120 310 100 
			 Solihull 80 230 90 
			 Walsall 100 260 70 
			 Wolverhampton 50 170 60 
			 Knowsley 50 140 30 
			 Liverpool 80 230 130 
			 St Helens 50 170 70 
			 Sefton 80 240 130 
			 Wirral 40 180 80 
			 Bolton 110 330 90 
			 Bury 30 150 70 
			 Manchester 140 390 100 
			 Oldham 90 290 70 
			 Rochdale 60 210 80 
			 Salford 50 170 40 
			 Stockport 60 230 80 
			 Tameside 70 190 90 
			 Trafford 80 270 80 
			 Wigan 90 290 100 
			 Barnsley 30 160 70 
			 Doncaster 50 190 90 
			 Rotherham 50 200 70 
			 Sheffield 160 500 180 
			 Bradford 310 650 150 
			 Calderdale 60 170 100 
			 Kirklees 100 340 120 
			 Leeds 180 550 240 
			 Wakefield 50 240 180 
			 Gateshead 30 110 70 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 90 200 110 
			 North Tyneside 40 120 90 
			 South Tyneside 30 100 30 
			 Sunderland 40 130 70 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 40 130 100 
			 Bristol, City of 130 280 60 
			 North Somerset 70 220 100 
			 South Gloucestershire 60 210 120 
			 Hartlepool 10 70 30 
			 Middlesbrough 10 60 20 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 20 70 40 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 30 130 60 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 50 190 90 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 40 190 150 
			 North East Lincolnshire 20 100 70 
			 North Lincolnshire 30 130 80 
			 North Yorkshire 60 290 180 
			 York 30 100 50 
			 Bedfordshire 70 140 210 
			 Luton 110 240 70 
			 Buckinghamshire 150 410 250 
			 Milton Keynes 60 180 100 
			 Derbyshire 140 580 310 
			 Derby 60 220 70 
			 Dorset 90 270 190 
			 Poole 60 150 40 
			 Bournemouth 70 170 60 
			 Durham 50 300 180 
			 Darlington 40 120 50 
			 East Sussex 130 500 170 
			 Brighton and Hove 130 300 80 
			 Hampshire 380 1,180 420 
			 Portsmouth 60 170 40 
			 Southampton 70 200 40 
			 Leicestershire 110 420 250 
			 Leicester 70 210 120 
			 Rutland 10 20 10 
			 Staffordshire 150 510 330 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 70 170 80 
			 Wiltshire 80 320 160 
			 Swindon 60 160 90 
			 Bracknell Forest 30 90 40 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 20 100 50 
			 West Berkshire 40 120 50 
			 Reading 40 100 30 
			 Slough 90 180 50 
			 Wokingham 40 150 50 
			 Cambridgeshire 130 490 230 
			 Peterborough 70 170 60 
			 Cheshire 120 470 270 
			 Halton 20 60 30 
			 Warrington 60 180 110 
			 Devon 110 500 260 
			 Plymouth 70 240 120 
			 Torbay 40 130 50 
			 Essex 350 1,140 600 
			 Southend-on-Sea 60 180 70 
			 Thurrock 40 140 80 
			 Herefordshire 20 80 80 
			 Worcestershire 110 300 260 
			 Kent 500 1,380 570 
			 Medway 50 200 60 
			 Lancashire 210 920 480 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 50 160 70 
			 Blackpool 50 170 50 
			 Nottinghamshire 160 580 310 
			 Nottingham 50 180 40 
			 Shropshire 40 220 100 
			 Telford and Wrekin 40 170 60 
			 Cornwall 80 410 180 
			 Cumbria 70 280 230 
			 Gloucestershire 140 470 260 
			 Hertfordshire 420 1,140 490 
			 Isle of Wight 10 40 70 
			 Lincolnshire 100 500 260 
			 Norfolk 100 480 250 
			 Northamptonshire 170 520 210 
			 Northumberland 40 110 220 
			 Oxfordshire 110 380 180 
			 Somerset 90 360 240 
			 Suffolk 70 260 200 
			 Surrey 420 1,030 500 
			 Warwickshire 130 470 210 
			 West Sussex 220 710 270 
			 (1) Includes CTCS and Academies. (2) This table is based on classes of 30 pupils or more, the normal measure is 31 pupils or more. (3) One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January. (4) Includes middle schools as deemed. (5) Includes children in reception and key stage 1 classes.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, columns 1937-8W, on schools: finance, which individual programmes are included in the category Positive Activities for Young People Programmes; and how much funding has been allocated to each such programme.

Diana Johnson: holding answer 15 October 2009
	In the reply given on 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 1936W, by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, we offered a figure of £94 million for the expenditure in 2010-11.
	The Positive Activities for Young People Programme is now a single programme which is paid to local authorities as part of their Area Based Grant.

Pupil Exclusions: Disadvantaged

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the rate of permanent exclusion from school was in each income deprivation affecting children index decile of deprivation in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the rate of permanent exclusion in each income deprivation affecting children index decile of deprivation, according to the location of the school, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2,3 ) rate of permanent exclusion by level of deprivation of school( 4) , England-2007-08 (estimates)( 5) 
			  Level of deprivation of school based on IDACI( 4)  (percentage)  Rate of permanent exclusion( 5,6) 
			 0-10 most deprived 0.12 
			 10-20 0.13 
			 20-30 0.14 
			 30-40 0.11 
			 40-50 0.12 
			 50-60 0.10 
			 60-70 0.09 
			 70-80 0.09 
			 80-90 0.08 
			 90-100 least deprived 0.09 
			 Total for all schools 0.11 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) 2007 Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index at Super Output Area level based on the location of the school. (5) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. (6) The number of permanent exclusions in each IDACI band as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January 2008.  Source: School Census

Schools: Standards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2009,  Official Report, column 996W, on schools: standards, what the estimated cost of collecting the information would be; which data protection rules would be contravened by collecting it; on what basis the estimate of £90 million was made; how much of the £90 million was paid by his Department; and from which budgetary headings the money came.

Dawn Primarolo: We do not hold the information on each individual adviser or their cost for 2008-09. We estimate that the cost of collecting this would exceed the cost threshold of £750 applicable to central Government. Furthermore, to provide information on individual advisers would infringe the rights of an individual's personal information and therefore be in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The estimate of £90 million was derived from information collected through the Department's review of its field forces in 2008. It is difficult to provide a precise breakdown of expenditure on each of the field forces, since they are delivered through a range of mechanisms-some are directly contracted (so the cost of advisers is incorporated within a larger contract), some are located in Government Offices as secondees, and some are employed directly by DCSF or its NDPBs. The £90 million includes some funding from other Government Departments in the delivery of improvement support where there is shared policy interest. It is difficult to disaggregate the proportion paid by this Department.
	The Department's contribution forms a proportion of its allocation from the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

Schools: Vetting

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether  (a) hon. Members,  (b) Ministers and  (c) elected members of a local education authority will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority before visiting a school under the provisions of the Vetting and Barring Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 21 July 2009
	The hon. Member will have received a copy of the Secretary of State's letter of 31 July, which addresses all the points raised in this parliamentary question. I attach a copy for ease of reference.
	 Letter from Ed Balls, dated 31 July 2009 :
	 The new Vetting and Barring scheme as it applies to Members of Parliament and schools
	I am writing to all Members of Parliament (MPs) representing constituencies in England and Wales about the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS), with a courtesy copy to MPs representing constituencies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	Following recent questions in the House, which were prompted by some misleading media coverage, I want to make clear how the VBS will operate and, in particular, how it will apply to MPs when they work for schools, but not when they make visits to schools without working for those schools. (The same principles would also apply in relation to work for children's centres.)
	As you may be aware the VBS is being introduced in response to a recommendation from the independent Bichard Inquiry, established following the Soham murders by school caretaker Ian Huntley. Sir Michael Bichard's Inquiry into these tragic events found that there was more we could reasonably do so that people who have already shown they pose a threat to children are prevented from taking up positions in schools. The VBS is designed to achieve precisely this in relation to schools.
	All new entrants to the schools workforce will have to register under the VBS from November 2010. For those who were already doing such work before November 2010, starting with those who have never been subject to CRB checks, we will phase in registration between 2011 and 2015.
	In the schools context, people who are not members of the schools workforce will be required to register with the VBS for one of only two reasons. The first reason is because they frequently work for a particular school or schools. Conversely, someone who just visits schools, for example to watch a school play or attend a prize-giving, to meet the head teacher or to observe a lesson in a classroom, will not have to register under the VBS.
	MPs will therefore not have to register with the VBS in the course of their normal duties such as visits to schools or children's centres in their constituencies. The only circumstances in which they would have to register are if, for example, an MP has arranged to go into schools to, say, teach politics to groups of pupils once a month for several successive months, as this means they would be classed as working for schools. Anyone doing this as paid work would have to pay a one-off charge of £64 to register under the VBS, but if an MP is doing this as a volunteer the £64 fee would not apply.
	The second and only other situation, in the schools context, in which people who are not members of the school and children's workforce will have to register with the VBS is by virtue of the particular post and decision-making powers they hold. For this reason some local councillors and council officers will be required to register, including all Lead Members for Children and Directors of Children's Services. On this basis, I and my DCSF ministerial team plan to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority as soon as registration starts in 2010.
	Further information about the VBS can be found at www.isa-gov.org.uk . In addition, I also enclose a note setting out the facts in response to some of the myths about the VBS which have appeared recently in the media.
	My Department, which leads for the Government in relation to policy on the safeguarding of children, is the main funder of the VBS together with the Department of Health, which has the parallel lead for vulnerable adults. The VBS in England and Wales is being delivered for DCSF and for the Department of Health by the Home Office, which also leads for the Government on criminal records information.
	I am copying this letter to Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services in the Welsh Assembly Government.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Analytical Services Research Programme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research projects have been commissioned by his Department's  (a) Analytical Services Research Programme and  (b) Communications Directorate in the last 24 months.

Barbara Follett: Details of research projects commissioned from the Analytical Services Research Programme are available from our Research Database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	The database provides information on projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and predecessor departments going back to 30 November 2001. This includes the subject, contractor and cost of each research commission.
	For details of research commissioned by the Communications Directorate I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 538-39W, as amended on 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 9MC. From that date onward all research commission by Communications is on the Research Database.

Atherton Associates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether officials of his Department have met representatives of Atherton Associates in the last 18 months.

Barbara Follett: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Building Alterations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes to permitted development rights which have restricted the rights of property owners to extend a dwelling have been made in the last 36 months.

Ian Austin: The Government introduced a new regime of permitted development rights for householders in October 2008. This replaced the previous volume- based limits approach with one which sets clearer limits on the size and position of household developments that can benefit from permitted development rights.
	The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order 2008 allows householders to extend their properties without the need for planning permission subject to the limitations and conditions that are set out in the order.

Charities

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: A complete list of funding to charitable institutions over the past five years could be made available only at a disproportionate cost.
	However, I refer the hon. Member to the list of charitable institutions that this Department funded in 2008-09 as published in our resource accounts on 14 July 2009 (HC449, pages 17-21) and also those funded in 2007-08 as published in the departmental annual report in May 2008 (Cm 7394).

Civil Service Compensation Scheme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme will have implications for compensation schemes in  (a) local government and  (b) non-departmental public bodies overseen by his Department.

Barbara Follett: Proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme will have no implications for the compensation scheme available to local government employees or for NDPBs who have separate provisions.

Community Development Foundation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding his Department is providing to the Community Development Foundation in 2009-10; and what the  (a) function and  (b) purpose of the foundation is.

Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government are providing £1,706,000 in grant in aid to our NDPB the Community Development Foundation in 2009-10. CDF's charitable objects are: to develop the capacity and skills of members of socially and economically or socially disadvantaged communities in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
	The aims of the Community Development Foundation are to maintain contact with grassroots experience, through consultancy and managed programmes and projects, links with individual practitioners, and indirectly through collaborative work with partner organisations; identify transferable good practice, through research, evaluation and collaborative activity; advise policy-makers and disseminate good practice, through policy work, training and conferences, publications and consultancy.

Council Housing: Construction

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council homes he expects to be built in each year under the local authority new build programme.

Ian Austin: The housing pledge, a centrepiece of our building Britain's future plan, announced an extra £1.5 billion to build new houses over this year and next. Funds from this pledge have been earmarked to support direct development by local authorities, to add to the £100 million already announced in the Budget.
	Round 1 of the local authority new build programme announced in September resulted in 49 councils being awarded funding to build 217 schemes across the country providing 2,174 new homes. Bidding in Round 2 closes at the end of October.
	We expect the programme to provide around 3,500 new homes, completed in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Council Housing: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the revenue raised by local authorities from reducing their council tax discount on empty homes; and whether this revenue will  (a) continue to be kept by local authorities after the 2011-12 settlement and  (b) be taken into account in the calculation of their tax-base for the purposes of allocating central government grant.

Barbara Follett: As at October 2008, reductions to council tax discounts for empty homes generated an annual additional revenue of £104 million over England. "Additional revenue" refers to the extra amount raised by applying a discount smaller than 50 per cent. We expect to calculate the council tax projections for the 2011-12 settlement based on the Council Tax Base (CTB) returns that authorities supply in 2008, 2009 and 2010. These will take into account the reduction in council tax discount on empty homes.

Council Housing: Tenants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of families required to move home by a local authority following the expiry of the right to statutory succession to a local authority property in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Austin: No estimate has been made.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the expenditure of each local authority in England was raised from council tax in the latest period for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the latest estimates of the percentage of revenue expenditure financed by council tax by each local authority in England for 2008-09.

Council Tax: Ministers of Religion

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent guidance his Department has given to billing authorities on  (a) the categories of duty which a minister of religion should be able to demonstrate in order to be eligible for a Class E or Class H council tax exemption,  (b) the definition of a minister of religion and  (c) the religions which are recognised for the purpose of this exemption.

Barbara Follett: On 21 September 1994 the then Department of Environment sent to chief finance officers of billing authorities the following guidance:
	"Under class E of S1 1992/551, the owner of a dwelling is liable to pay the council tax in respect of it if it is
	"a dwelling which is inhabited by a minister of religion of any religious denomination as a residence from which he performs the duties of his office."
	Under class H of SI 1992/558, a dwelling is exempt from the council tax if it is
	"an unoccupied dwelling which is held for the purpose of being available for occupation by a minister of any religious denomination as a residence from which to perform the duties of his office."
	The term "minister of religion" is not defined in the Act. Neither is the concept of occupying a property as a residence from which to conduct the duties of the office of a minister of religion. Authorities must consider the facts of each case in determining whether or not the person who inhabits, or for whom a property is held, is a minister of religion, and whether or not the property is used or held for use as a residence from which a minister of religion conducts the duties of his office.
	In the Department's view a person might normally be considered a minister of religion if his duties include at least some of the following:
	conducting religious worship;
	providing pastoral care, especially to those who are sick, distressed or needy;
	conducting weddings, funerals or baptisms (or their equivalent);
	providing leadership to local members of his denomination;
	overseeing the ministry of others who perform these functions, providing them with support and pastoral care.
	It is also the Department's view that, in considering whether or not a minister conducts his duties from a property, regard may normally be had to whether he is available at that property to provide pastoral care, or whether business relating to his role as minister is conducted there. It is the Department's view that it would not normally be sufficient for a minister merely to reside in the property and undertake his private worship there."

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency's automated valuation model has been used to assist in the amendment of council tax bandings; and whether the model is connected to his Department's council tax banding support tool.

Barbara Follett: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The AVM has not been used directly to assist in the amendment of council tax bandings.
	 (b) The council tax banding support tool was developed using automated valuation modelling techniques.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent from the public purse to date on  (a) the 2007 council tax revaluation and  (b) computer databases and data gathering associated with that revaluation.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) on 7 July 2009,  Official Report, column 775W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2009,  Official Report, column 190W, on council tax, 
	(1)  how many dwellings in England have been assigned the value significant code of OS (patio) in each local authority area, or in each equivalent local administrative area that the Valuation Office Agency's database uses, in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many homes in each local authority area have a  (a) GG value significant code and  (b) OS code;
	(3)  with reference to the Valuation Office Agency's reply to request 11437929.1/CEO/TE made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, if he will place in the Library a copy of the chart showing the number of dwellings assigned with each individual dwellinghouse code and each individual value significant code across England in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many dwellings in each local billing authority, or closest administrative unit used by the Valuation Office Agency, have been recorded with a  (a) VC and  (b) VE value significant code.

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2009,  Official Report, column 25W, on council tax: valuation, for what reasons the automated valuation model (AVM) is not being used for council tax valuations and revaluations; what use is being made of the AVM database; and whether the database is being updated with property attribute information.

Barbara Follett: The automated valuation model (AVM) is not being used for a council tax revaluation as there is no revaluation taking place. It is not being used for individual council tax valuations, as it was developed as a tool for mass appraisal and is not an efficient tool for valuing individual properties.
	There is no AVM database. The AVM accesses the Valuation Office Agency's digitised database of property records.
	The Valuation Office Agency's digitised database of property records is continually updated with property attribute information as part of ongoing work in connection with maintaining current council tax valuation lists.

Council Tax: Valuation

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties within the Wiltshire County Council area are recorded with each individual (a) dwelling house code and (b) value significant code, including each individual (i) type, (ii) number of rooms, (iii) number of bedrooms, (iv) number of bathrooms, (v) number of floors, (vi) floor level, (vii) parking, (viii) garaging, (ix) conservatory type, (x) age, (xi) outbuilding and (xii) modernisation code according to electronic records held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Barbara Follett: The number of properties with each individual dwellinghouse code and each value significant code, for all local authority areas in England, will be placed in the Library of the House.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum size is of an external building next to a domestic dwelling which can be classified as an outbuilding by the Valuation Office Agency for the purposes of its dwellinghouse coding for council tax valuations.

Barbara Follett: None, but an external structure must be value significant to be recorded as an outbuilding for the purposes of dwellinghouse coding.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to the  (a) eligibility and  (b) ability of households to appeal against their council tax banding since May 1997.

Barbara Follett: There have been no changes to the eligibility of households to make proposals against their council tax bands.
	Facilities to make a proposal became more accessible in June 2002 when the Valuation Office Agency introduced an application onto its website that allowed proposals to be made online.
	Since 1 April 2008, taxpayers who have made a proposal and are unhappy with the decision of the Valuation Office Agency's listing officer can now appeal directly to an independent Valuation Tribunal.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government during what period of time a homeowner is able to appeal against the council tax band of their property.

Barbara Follett: There are limited circumstances in which a formal challenge (known as a 'proposal') will be accepted by the Valuation Office Agency as having been validly made, some of which are subject to a time limit. A person may, for example, make a proposal to alter the council tax banding of their property within six months of becoming the council tax payer. Further details of the circumstances and time limits are available from the Valuation Office Agency's website at:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/can_i_appeal.htm
	If, having made a valid proposal, a householder is unhappy with the decision made by the Valuation Office Agency's Listing Officer; an appeal can be made to an independent Valuation Tribunal within three months of that decision.
	Anyone who has concerns that their property's council tax band is incorrect should contact the local listing officer who may amend the banding if there is sufficient evidence to justify it.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets his Department has been set for achieving value for money in its operations; and what progress has been made in meeting those targets.

Barbara Follett: The Department's value for money targets and its plans to achieve these are set out in the 2009 Department annual report (chapter 9, page 150). In summary, the comprehensive spending review 2007 (CSR07) set the Department a target to achieve £887 million vfm gains by March 2011, comprising of:
	£734 million through the supply of new affordable housing;
	£110 million from the Fire and Rescue Service;
	£43 million by reducing the cost of running the Department.
	Progress against these targets will be published in the Department's 2009 autumn performance report.

Departmental Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what  (a) information and  (b) datasets held on the Places Database (i) are not accessible to the public via the Places internet interface and (ii) are only accessible from within his Department;
	(2)  which datasets are contained on his Department's Places Database.

Ian Austin: All the data and information that are held within the Places Database are accessible to the public.
	The information requested on each the datasets contained on the Places Database has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Departmental Manpower

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2007W, on departmental manpower, what the  (a) job titles and  (b) divisions are of each of the 59.5 full-time equivalent staff on fixed term contracts.

Barbara Follett: The following table sets out the division and grade of the full-time equivalent staff on fixed term contracts, according to our personnel records as requested.
	
		
			   Grade 
			  Location  AO and equivalent  EO and equivalent  HEO and equivalent  SEO and equivalent  G7and equivalent  G6 and equivalent  SCS 
			 Communities Group 1 2 2 2 2 - 3 
			 Corporate Delivery Group - 2 4 - - - - 
			 Housing and Planning 1 9 7 8 3 2 1 
			 HR & Business Change Group - - - - - - 1 
			 Local Government and Regeneration Group - 2 - - - - 1 
			 Regions and Communities - - - - - - 1 
			 Strategy and Performance - - - - - - 3 
			 The Planning Inspectorate - - - - - - 1 
			 On loan to other Government Departments - - - - - - 2

Departmental Procurement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2009,  Official Report, column 714W, on departmental procurement, what the cost was of procuring aerial photographs from Infoterra for the digital mapping project; and which public sector bodies are parties to the Pan-Government Agreement.

Ian Austin: The Pan-Government Agreement currently provides 106 central Government bodies (listed as follows) with geographic data. The data are used for a variety of purposes including environmental analysis and land registration. The aerial photography component is worth a maximum of £9.54 million +VAT in the first four years.
	4NW
	Advantage West Midlands
	Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
	Arts Council of Wales
	Association of North East Councils
	Audit Commission
	Boundary Commission for England (BCE)
	Boundary Commission for Wales
	British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
	British Council
	British Geological Survey (BGS)
	British Waterways
	Cabinet Office
	Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
	Charity Commission
	Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
	Church Commissioners
	Coal Authority (The)
	Commission for Rural Communities
	Communities and Local Government
	Consumer Council for Water
	Consumer Focus
	Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)
	Crown Estate (The)
	Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS)
	Defence Estates (DE)
	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
	Department for Transport (DfT)
	Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
	Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
	Department of Health (DH)
	East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)
	East Midlands Regional Assembly
	East of England Development Agency
	East of England Regional Assembly
	Electoral Commission (The)
	English Heritage
	Environment Agency (EA)
	Food Standards Agency (The)
	Forensic Science Service
	Forestry Commission
	Government Offices for the English Regions (GON)
	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
	Health Protection Agency
	Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
	High Speed Two
	Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
	Highways Agency
	Historic Scotland
	Home Office
	Homes and Communities Agency
	House of Commons Library
	Information Centre for Health and Social Care
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
	Land Registry
	Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
	London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency
	Met Office
	Ministry of Defence
	Ministry of Justice
	National Assembly for Wales Parliamentary Service
	National Audit Office
	National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
	National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)
	Natural England
	NHS Connecting for Health
	NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
	North West Regional Development Agency
	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)
	Office for National Statistics (ONS)
	Office of Communications (OFCOM)
	Office of Government Commerce (OGC)
	Oil and Pipelines Agency
	Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
	One North East
	Potato Council Ltd
	Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland(RCAHMS)
	Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW)
	Royal Parks (The)
	Scottish Water
	Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)
	South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
	South East England Regional Assembly
	South West Councils
	South West Observatory
	South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)
	Sport England
	Sports Council for Wales
	Tenant Services Authority
	The National Library of Wales
	Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
	Training and Development Agency for Schools
	Transport Scotland
	Tribunals Service
	UK Border Agency
	Valuation Office Agency (VOA)
	Wales Centre for Health (WCfH)
	Welsh Assembly Government
	Welsh Health Estates
	West Midlands Regional Assembly
	Yorkshire and Humber Assembly
	Yorkshire Forward

Departmental Public Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 8 July 2009,  Official Report, column 901W, on departmental public expenditure, when he expects his Department's impact assessments to be published.

Barbara Follett: Departmental impact assessments will be published alongside Bills on their introduction to Parliament in the usual way after the Queen's Speech. The Department is continuing to work with lead Departments to identify costs for inclusion in individual impact assessments for each new Bill.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2007W, on departmental finance, what the breakdown by budgetary subheading is of his Department's other current spending for 2008-09.

Barbara Follett: The Department's other current expenditure in 2008-09 was £15.8 millions (page 50, line G Resources Accounts 2008-09). The breakdown of this is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Pay (1)3.4 
			 Non-pay (2)11.0 
			 Non-cash (3)1.4 
			 Total 15.8 
			 (1) Expenditure on outward secondees fully offset by income received (including in appropriation in aid column of accounts) (2) Includes a range of compensation payments over the course of the year, most notably a £9.3 million payment following parliamentary commissioner for administration ruling on a planning case. (3) Balance of provision for compensation payments to ex-PSA staff which are non discretionary.

Departmental Research

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research projects his Department has commissioned in the last 24 months.

Barbara Follett: Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our research database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	The database provides information on projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and predecessor Departments going back to 30 November 2001. This includes the subject, contractor and cost of each research commission.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, columns 190-1W, on departmental visits abroad, which divisions of his Department sent civil servants to represent his Department and to provide expert advice on policy and subject issues in  (a) North America,  (b) Australia and (c) Asia in the 12 months to 31 March 2009.

Barbara Follett: Records on civil servants sent by divisions of the Communities and Local Government (CLG) to represent the Department and to provide expert advice on policy and subject issues in  (a) North America,  (b) Australia and  (c) Asia in the 12 months to 31 March 2009 are not held centrally. As a consequence, this information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.

Fire Services: Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary cost of employers' contributions to fire service pensions was  (a) in cash terms and  (b) as a proportion of the total expenditure of fire and rescue authorities in (i) the most recent year for which figures are available and (ii) in 1997-98.

Barbara Follett: The Firefighters' Pension Schemes 1992 and 2006 are unfunded, pay-as-you-go schemes and under the financing arrangements in operation in 1997-98 pensions were paid from revenue: there were no employers' contributions.
	New financing arrangements came into operation in April 2006 for English fire and rescue authorities, since when employers have paid a contribution of 21.3 per cent. of pensionable pay for members of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992 and 11 per cent. for members of the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006; in addition a charge is paid to cover the cost of any ill-health retirement.
	In 2008-09, employers' contributions from English authorities totalled £203.477 million, which was 9.6 per cent. of total expenditure.

FlexSpace

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the outcome against objectives of the operation of the FlexSpace initiative in his Department's accommodation.

Barbara Follett: The planned reduction in Communities and Local Government's London estate from two buildings to one was achieved on 5 October 2009 with the final relocation of staff from Ashdown House to Eland House, thus enabling savings of £4.5 million per annum on reduced operating costs.
	The success of the migration to flexible desking will be formally assessed in early 2010. A staff survey was carried out in January 2009 to establish a baseline for how staff in Communities and Local Government assessed their working environment. The same survey will be run in March 2010, some three months after the last moves to flexible desking, to measure the level of improvement. The survey will be supplemented by workshops, focus groups and individual interviews.

Government Office for London

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what functions and responsibilities in relation to housing are undertaken by the Government Office for London.

Ian Austin: Housing is the policy responsibility of Communities and Local Government, and GOL works to deliver a number of the Department's housing targets in London. GOL uses its local knowledge both to work with a range of partners, including the Mayor of London, The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the London boroughs, to promote and improve understanding of the Government's housing policy and to influence the development of new housing initiatives.
	GOL's housing role includes advising CLG Ministers on the Mayor's housing strategy and his recommendations on the allocation of funding from the regional housing pot in London, negotiating housing targets in London boroughs' local area agreements, and advising Ministers on housing growth issues in north London and Croydon.
	In addition, GOL's planning work contributes to the housing agenda through its planning responsibilities. These include advising on and scrutinising the London Plan and Local Development Frameworks on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to ensure that provision is made for both affordable and market housing. GOL also has a national role in confirming planning, housing and regeneration compulsory purchase orders in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which facilitates regeneration and housing schemes nationwide.

Greater London Authority: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimates were made by his predecessor Department of the  (a) cost and  (b) staffing complement of the Greater London Authority prior to its creation.

Barbara Follett: The White Paper, "A Mayor and Assembly for London", which set out the Government's proposals for the creation of the Greater London Authority (GLA) in March 1998 provided an indicative estimate that the GLA would have around 250 staff and an annual cost of around £20 million a year.
	This initial estimate was subsequently refined as the GLA's specific duties and responsibilities became clearer following the passage of the GLA Act 1999. The then Minister for Local Government announced in February 2000 that the GLA's first full year budget for 2000-01 would be £32.5 million, to be funded by grant and precept. This first budget assumed an indicative staff complement of 400 FTE staff for the GLA.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate his Department has made of the average age of a first-time buyer of a domestic property.

Ian Austin: The average (median) age of a first time buyer of a residential property in the UK in August 2009 was 29 years old.
	 Source:
	The Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether an impact assessment has been prepared in relation to the housing policies announced in the draft legislative programme.

Ian Austin: No housing policies were announced as part of the Draft Legislative Programme 2009-10.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which regions regional housing executives have been established.

Ian Austin: The only region with a body known as a regional housing executive is the West Midlands. This was established in September 2006. Other regions have similar bodies, with responsibilities including the preparation of a regional housing strategy and advising Ministers on bids for elements of the regional housing pot.
	These bodies include representatives from local authorities (and are mainly chaired by a local authority member) as well as key stakeholders and the HCA.

Housing: Apprentices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 14 September 2009 on apprenticeships and new housing, whether the apprenticeships with the projects' developers will be open to  (a) EEA nationals,  (b) A2 nationals and  (c) A8 nationals.

Ian Austin: On 14 September 2009 my right hon. Friend the Housing Minster announced that all projects funded from future rounds of the housing pledge will be required to offer apprenticeships places. The aim of this policy is to increase opportunities for young and/or unemployed people who have been particularly hard hit by the current economic climate. Many of these projects will be carried out by registered social landlords who have a commitment to support their local communities and will be seeking to ensure maximum benefits for young and/or unemployed people living in the vicinity of their developments.
	The new apprenticeships places will comply with current UK legislation.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many residential new build planning applications were granted in each of the last five years; and what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of residential new build sites with planning permission which have not been developed. [Official Report, 28 October 2009, Vol. 498, c. 3MC.]

Ian Austin: The number of planning applications for residential developments that have been granted for last five years is set out in the table:
	
		
			  Planning applications granted on residential developments in England( 1) 
			   Applications granted on residential dwellings 
			 2003-04 49,500 
			 2004-05 56,600 
			 2005-06 51,300 
			 2006-07 49,500 
			 2007-08 50,500 
			 (1) England figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 and include estimates for non-responding authorities.  Notes: Information for 2008-09 to be published on 29 October 2009.  Source: Communities and Local Government General Development Control Returns 
		
	
	Information on whether planning applications have been developed or not is not held centrally.

Housing: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much he expects the Homes and Communities Agency to pay to housing developers for completion of homes under the National Affordable Housing programme in each of the next three years.

John Healey: As set out in the Homes and Communities Agency's Corporate Plan, we are expecting to invest £3,248 million and £2,480 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively through the Affordable Housing programme on either starts on site or completions. Budgets for 2011-12 will be subject to the outcome of the next spending review. Housing developers are eligible to submit bids for this grant funding.

Housing: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 17 July 2009, on housing, how much funding will be transferred from  (a) the Growth Fund,  (b) the Decent Homes Arms Length Management Organisation Programme,  (c) the Private Sector Renewal programme and  (d) each of the Homes and Communities Agency programmes to contribute to the £1.5 billion of funding announced in the Building Britain's Future.

John Healey: To enable investment to build an extra 20,000 new affordable homes for rent and low cost sale, I have reduced £128 million from the Growth Fund and £75 million from the Private Sector Renewal Fund through 2009-11 and rescheduled £150 million from the Decent Homes ALMO programme. In addition, I have charged the Homes and Communities Agency with producing £183 million of the overall £1.5 billion package through more efficient and flexible management of its range of housing and regeneration programmes.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average grant per unit for a home sold under  (a) Rent to HomeBuy,  (b) HomeBuy Direct,  (c) New Build HomeBuy,  (d) MyChoice HomeBuy,  (e) OwnHome,  (f) the First Time Buyers Initiative and  (g) Social HomeBuy was in each of the last three years.

John Healey: The following is a breakdown of the average grant per unit for homes completed in the last three years:
	
		
			  Average grant per unit on completions for the last three years 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Rent to Homebuy n/a n/a 35,503 
			 Homebuy Direct n/a n/a n/a 
			 New Build HomeBuy 12,676 17,752 24,173 
			 MyChoice HomeBuy n/a n/a 35,795 
			 OwnHome n/a n/a 27,577 
			 FTBI 91,713 91,149 77,915 
			 Social Homebuy(1) 11,413 12,179 10,464 
			 (1) The grant relates to sales in the Housing Association sector only as grant is not given in the local authority sector.  Source: Homes and Communities Agency.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average purchase price for a home sold via  (a) Rent to HomeBuy,  (b) HomeBuy Direct,  (c) New Build HomeBuy,  (d) MyChoice HomeBuy,  (e) OwnHome,  (f) the First Time Buyers Initiative and  (g) Social HomeBuy was in each region in each of the last three years.

John Healey: The following tables show average regional market value of HomeBuy properties completed in the last three years.
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  £ 
			   Social HomeBuy  New Build HomeBuy  First Time Buyers Initiative 
			 East Midlands 83,333 129,202 n/a 
			 Eastern n/a 174,470 n/a 
			 London 221,125 229,374 197,297 
			 North East 62,000 125,830 n/a 
			 North West 90,500 129,706 n/a 
			 South East 165,000 165,380 222,566 
			 South West n/a 150,841 n/a 
			 West Midlands n/a 140,823 172,143 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 78,333 104,995 n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  2007-08 
			  £ 
			   Social HomeBuy  New Build HomeBuy  First Time Buyers Initiative 
			 East Midlands n/a 132,801 174,370 
			 Eastern 143,500 173,207 n/a 
			 London 151,672 219,574 236,573 
			 North East 135,000 115,333 159,958 
			 North West 183,449 132,781 127,732 
			 South East 164,488 175,040 230,826 
			 South West n/a 152,171 200,642 
			 West Midlands 153,375 135,135 138,104 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber n/a 116,030 161,520 
		
	
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  £ 
			   Social HomeBuy  New Build HomeBuy  First Time Buyers Initiative  My Choice  Own Home 
			 East Midlands n/a 141,341 130,747 123,134 139,651 
			 Eastern 192,500 158,578 210,129 162,854 173,112 
			 London 205,020 226,977 211,702 259,098 217,958 
			 North East 77,571 113,813 130,141 118,956 130,970 
			 North West 80,207 128,114 130,498 130,079 139,687 
			 South East 180,150 181,285 195,949 171,414 181,717 
			 South West n/a 161,091 175,575 151,598 168,713 
			 West Midlands 113,542 114,302 131,166 128,685 141,015 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 130,000 121,344 138,049 122,830 142,275 
		
	
	There were no Rent to HomeBuy sales recorded in 2008-09. New Build HomeBuy and Social HomeBuy purchasers are able to purchase a share of the property value from 25 per cent. upwards.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households renting under the Rent to HomeBuy scheme have subsequently acquired a share in their home.

John Healey: The Rent to HomeBuy scheme was introduced in July 2008 to help eligible households benefit from an affordable rent while they save for a deposit for a pre-specified period (up to five years). There were no sales returns from registered social landlords recorded on the CORE (continuous recording) database held by the Tenants Services Authority as at 31 March 2009.

Housing: Public Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the central Government expenditure on housing was in  (a) cash terms and  (b) real terms in each year since 1996-97.

Barbara Follett: Data on public expenditure by function are published annually in "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses". The latest edition was published in June 2009 (Cm 7630) and includes data from financial year 1987-88 up to and including 2008-09.

Housing: Standards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what obligations local authorities have to  (a) undertake a private sector housing condition survey and  (b) provide resulting information to his Department;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the completion of the latest round of private sector housing condition surveys.

Ian Austin: All local authorities are expected to have in place a local housing strategy. This provides an analysis of the housing needs of an area, covering housing across all tenures and provides a framework for ensuring that all parties act in a co-ordinated way to tackle housing problems. It is in local authority's interests to collect information across all housing tenures through housing condition surveys, including those privately owned, to ensure it has a plan in place for its current and future housing needs for all local residents. The Government do not stipulate either the precise detail of local housing condition surveys, the timetable of these or that local authorities share the information collected with Communities and Local Government. It is for local authorities to decide the best way to take this forward.

Housing: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency takes into account the potential for planning permission, where such permission has not been explicitly granted, when its district valuer arm values homes for right to buy purposes.

Barbara Follett: The Valuation Office Agency reflects any realistic potential for further development when valuing dwellings for right to buy purposes. This is required under the statutory basis of valuation, as contained within section 127 Housing Act 1985 and is in full accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' code of practice, "Valuations for Right to Buy, Right to Acquire and Equity Sharing of Social Housing".

Housing: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many domestic dwellings in England have been assigned the notification code CL26 by the Valuation Office Agency in each year since 2006-07.

Barbara Follett: The number of properties, in England, reviewed and cleared with notification change code CL26 is as follows.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006-07 39,017 
			 2007-08 63,233 
			 2008-09 51,068

Housing: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 26 June 2007,  Official Report, on housing: valuation, what method the Valuation Office Agency uses to establish how much a permanent greenhouse is worth.

Barbara Follett: The Valuation Office Agency uses the comparison method to value domestic property for council tax purposes, whatever features it may have. Individual items would not be considered in isolation but by reference to the effect they have on the value of the whole.

Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation Wales Conference

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech, presentation and handouts made by the representative of the Valuation Tribunal Service at the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation Wales conference held in Bournemouth on 30 September 2009.

Barbara Follett: I have placed in the Library a copy of the presentation given by Anne Galbraith OBE, Chairman of the Valuation Tribunal Service, entitled "The Modern Appeals Service" given at the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation's Annual conference in Bournemouth on 30 November 2009.

Land: Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  which organisations have subscribed to the new Pan-Government Agreement on geographical information;
	(2)  which public sector organisations have purchased data from the colour infra-red product through the new Pan-Government Agreement.

Ian Austin: The following government organisations are members of the PGA.
	Organisations annotated with * have licensed aerial photography and therefore have access to the colour infra-red product.
	4NW
	Advantage West Midlands*
	Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales*
	Arts Council of Wales*
	Association of North East Councils
	Audit Commission
	Boundary Commission for England (BCE)
	Boundary Commission for Wales
	British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)*
	British Council
	British Geological Survey (BGS)
	British Waterways*
	Cabinet Office
	Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
	Charity Commission
	Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
	Church Commissioners*
	Coal Authority (The)
	Commission for Rural Communities
	Communities and Local Government*
	Consumer Council for Water
	Consumer Focus
	Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)*
	Crown Estate (The)*
	Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS)*
	Defence Estates (DE)*
	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)*
	Department for Transport (DfT)
	Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
	Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)
	Department of Health (DH)*
	East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)*
	East Midlands Regional Assembly
	East of England Development Agency*
	East of England Regional Assembly*
	Electoral Commission (The)*
	English Heritage*
	Environment Agency (EA)*
	Food Standards Agency (The)
	Forensic Science Service
	Forestry Commission
	Government Offices for the English Regions (GON)
	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
	Health Protection Agency*
	Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)*
	High Speed Two*
	Higher Education Funding Council for Wales*
	Highways Agency
	Historic Scotland*
	Home Office
	Homes and Communities Agency*
	House of Commons Library
	Information Centre for Health and Social Care
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
	Land Registry
	Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales*
	London Thames Gateway Development Corporation*
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency
	Met Office
	Ministry of Defence*
	Ministry of Justice
	National Assembly for Wales Parliamentary Service*
	National Audit Office
	National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
	National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA)*
	Natural England*
	NHS Connecting for Health
	NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
	North West Regional Development Agency*
	Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)
	Office for National Statistics (ONS)*
	Office of Communications (Ofcom)
	Office of Government Commerce (OGC)*
	Oil and Pipelines Agency*
	Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)*
	One North East
	Potato Council Ltd*
	Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments Scotland (RCAHMS)*
	Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW)*
	Royal Parks (The)*
	Scottish Water*
	Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)*
	South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
	South East England Regional Assembly
	South West Councils
	South West Observatory
	South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)
	Sport England*
	Sports Council for Wales*
	Tenant Services Authority
	The National Library of Wales*
	Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
	Training and Development Agency for Schools
	Transport Scotland*
	Tribunals Service
	UK Border Agency
	Valuation Office Agency (VOA)
	Wales Centre for Health (WCfH)*
	Welsh Assembly Government*
	Welsh Health Estates*
	West Midlands Regional Assembly
	Yorkshire and Humber Assembly
	Yorkshire Forward*

Land: Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 487-8W, on land: databases, what aerial and satellite photography members of the Pan-Government Agreement will have access to; and what associated photography products are provided by  (a) Ordnance Survey,  (b) Landmark and  (c) Dotted Eyes.

Ian Austin: Members of the Pan-Government Agreement have access to a range of data from three suppliers (Landmark-Dotted Eyes, Next Perspectives and Ordnance Survey). The Next Perspectives consortium provides aerial photography (25 cm resolution colour imagery; colour infra-red data); and height data (contour and digital terrain models). Satellite data are not included.
	There are no other suppliers of aerial photography products under the PGA. Ordnance Survey provides a range of products including large, medium and small scale data; transport; boundaries; address and gazetteer data. The Landmark-Dotted Eyes consortium supplies the PGA with postcodes and points of interest data.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on their implementation of Financial Reporting Standard 12.

Barbara Follett: The Department has not issued any guidance on Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 12. The application of FRS 12 to local authorities is governed by the 'Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom: A Statement of Recommended Practice', published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. This code is identified as a proper practice in relation to the accounts of local authorities by regulation 31 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No 3146).

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the operation of their financial reserves.

Barbara Follett: The Department has not issued guidance to local authorities on the operation of their financial reserves. Decisions on the level of reserves are a matter for local authorities. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) publish professional guidance on the establishment and maintenance of local authority reserves.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 29 September 2009, on council efficiency, which local authorities reported efficiency savings in relation to  (a) adopting alternate weekly refuse collections and  (b) introducing wheeled refuse containers.

Barbara Follett: The Department does not collect information from councils on the value of efficiencies broken down by individual service sectors. Councils are required to report only the total net value of ongoing cash-releasing value for money gains that have impacted since the start of the 2008-09 financial year.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1510W, on national insurance contributions: local authorities, whether the planned additional cost of national insurance contributions for local authorities will be treated as a new burden for the purposes of determining local authority grant.

Barbara Follett: The increase in national insurance contributions for employers announced in the pre-Budget report 2008 applies to all employers and does not impact disproportionately upon local authorities. Consequently, the new burdens doctrine does not apply.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the International Financial Reporting Standard to local government on  (a) staff leave costs in local government and  (b) other local government costs.

Barbara Follett: The Department is currently assessing the financial implications of the introduction for local government of the International Financial Reporting Standards in financial year 2010-11. We are considering the effects in relation to staff leave costs as well as other costs and propose to consult local authorities shortly.

Local Government: Accountability

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  which local authorities have passed  (a) delivery of and  (b) ownership of services in respect of their duty to involve to social enterprises; and whether any such transfer has also involved a transfer of premises;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to assess the effectiveness of  (a) local authorities and  (b) other public agencies in discharging their obligations in respect of their (i) duty to promote democracy and (ii) duty to involve;
	(3)  what information his Department holds on those local authorities which have not yet put in place mechanisms in respect of their duty to  (a) involve and  (b) promote democracy obligations; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what information his Department holds on whether local authorities and other public agencies are engaging representatives of vulnerable persons as required under the provisions of the 7.

Barbara Follett: The duty to promote democracy is included in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill currently in Parliament. It is not yet, therefore, a statutory duty.
	In terms of the duty to involve, it is principally for local authorities and relevant public bodies to which this currently applies to assess for themselves the effectiveness of when and how they involve others, and how this improves services and community cohesion in an area. My Department does not collate and hold detailed information on how individual authorities are implementing the duty to involve, including any transfers of services to social enterprises. Under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment, the independent inspectorate of local services will be considering how well local authorities and partners understand and respond to the needs and aspirations of local people. The first set of CAA reports are due to be published on 10 December.
	Inspectorates have made it clear that they will pay particular attention in their assessments to people whose personal circumstances present a risk to themselves or to others. They will report clearly where their needs are not being met or where they have concerns about them being met in future, allowing for the different levels of risk and urgency associated with such circumstances.

Local Government: Accountability

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated to  (a) local authorities and other public bodies and  (b) other organisations in respect of their (i) duty to involve and (ii) duty to promote democracy obligations over the next three years.

Barbara Follett: The Department has not allocated additional funding for the duty to involve. Involving and consulting local people is not a new task. Better engagement of local people should help public bodies to deliver better and more efficient local services. It is reasonable to expect authorities to factor in value for money when considering the appropriate level of engagement.
	The duty to promote democracy is included in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill currently in Parliament. It is not yet, therefore, a statutory duty. Final decisions about funding allocations have not yet been made.

Local Government: Barnet

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has provided to the London borough of Barnet to test behavioural economics to date.

Barbara Follett: The Department gave £350,000 to the London borough of Barnet in 2008-09 for pilot projects on behavioural change on recycling.

Local Government: Influenza

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's pandemic influenza contingency plan.

Barbara Follett: A copy of the pandemic influenza contingency plan will be placed in the Library of the House.

Met Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department provides funding to the Met Office.

Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government provides funding to the Met Office for the provision of the web-based FireMet service. FireMet is a weather system designed to provide the Fire and Rescue Service with the latest weather information to help them identify a safe approach when dealing with a major incident.
	Funding provided to date is as follows and covers costs associated with the development of the FireMet system, associated training and operational delivery of the service.
	2006-07: £21,385
	2007-08: £86,010
	2008-09: £53,716

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been  (a) distributed to each local authority through the Preventing Repossession Revenue Grant and  (b) subsequently spent by each authority; how many people applied for grants; how many grants were issued in the ranges (i) £0 - £249, (ii) £250 - £499, (iii) £500 - £999, (iv) £1,000 - £1,999, (v) £2,000 - £2,999, (vi) £3,000 - £3,999, (vii) £4,000 - £4,999 and (viii) £5,000 or more; what assessment he has made of the effect of the scheme in preventing repossession or eviction in each year since the grant's inception; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the scheme in the next two years.

John Healey: The £20 million Preventing Repossessions Fund was announced by the Chancellor in the Budget to enable local authorities to offer small loans up to a maximum value of £5,000 to families at risk of homelessness through repossession or eviction. A list of allocations made in June 2009 to individual local authorities for 2009-10 has been placed in the House Library. Information about the use councils have made of this grant and number of households who have received a payment from the fund will be published later this year.
	The fund forms part of the range of assistance that has been put in place at every stage to help struggling households. It provides additional support to local authorities in their work to prevent repossessions and eviction in difficult cases where households may have multiple debts or negative equity.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information was used to establish the areas where advertising for the Mortgage Help campaign was to be concentrated; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: 22 priority areas were identified for additional targeting as part of the Mortgage Help campaign to help prevent repossessions by encouraging concerned homeowners to seek help and advice. These areas were identified as facing a greater risk of increased repossessions using labour market data and mortgage possession data.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual budget for the Mortgage Help campaign is; and how much is expected to be spent on  (a) campaign advertising and  (b) the campaign's website in 2009-10.

John Healey: In the financial year 2009-10 the total allocated budget for the Mortgage Help campaign is £1.855 million. The campaign is still running, and so spend allocations for different aspects of the campaign have not yet been finalised. The Department will publish a breakdown of the actual campaign spend at the time of its next annual report.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 8 September 2009 on support for homeowners, what criteria were used to select the 22 hotspot areas; and what account was taken of mortgage repossession figures held by the Ministry of Justice in that selection.

John Healey: 22 priority areas were identified for additional targeting as part of the Mortgage Help campaign to help prevent repossessions by encouraging concerned homeowners to seek help and advice. These areas were identified as facing a greater risk of increased repossessions using labour market data and mortgage possession data.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what statistics  (a) his Department and  (b) the Valuation Office Agency are compiling on the level of take-up of deferred business rates under his Department's scheme to allow partial deferral of 2009-10 increases.

Barbara Follett: On  (a), the Department is planning to collect figures on the total number of deferrals granted and the total amount deferred for each local billing authority.
	On  (b), the Valuation Office Agency does not collect these data.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to reduce average business rate bills in April 2010 if retail price index inflation is negative in September 2009.

Barbara Follett: Under schedule 7 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 the increases in the business rates multipliers each year are capped by the previous September's RPI. Therefore the September 2009 RPI of -1.4 per cent. will exert a downward pressure on the multipliers and 2010-11 rates bills. Under the same legislation, the multipliers will also be adjusted to ensure that the overall tax yield does not increase as a result of the 2010 revaluation. The Government have no plans to amend the way that the multipliers are calculated.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessments have been made of the effects of the introduction of the new regime of empty property business rates to date.

Barbara Follett: An Impact Assessment was published with the Explanatory Memorandum to the Non-Domestic Ratings (Unoccupied Property) (England) Regulations 2009. It may be viewed on the Office of Public Sector Information website at the following address:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/em/uksiem_20090353_en.pdf

Non-Domestic Rates: Advertising

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ludlow of 16 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2288W, on the Valuation Office Agency: publications, whether an advertising station which is not let out, not reserved and not displaying any image is eligible for empty property rate relief if its rateable value is under the empty property rate relief threshold.

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 11 February 2009,  Official  Report, columns 2065-066W.

Non-Domestic Rates: Diplomatic Missions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 6 July 2009,  Official Report, column 547W, on diplomatic missions, if he will allow local authorities to withdraw services from diplomatic missions which do not pay the national non-domestic rates billed to them.

Barbara Follett: Local authorities are under statutory obligations to provide certain services in their areas and cannot therefore withdraw such services where a diplomatic mission fails to pay the element of its business rates bill for which it is responsible.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much net revenue has been raised from the new regime of empty property business rates in each year since their introduction.

Barbara Follett: Local authorities reported that they granted £487 million of empty property relief in 2008-09 and estimate that in 2009-10 they will grant empty property relief of £570 million.
	These data are available in the National non-domestic rates statistics releases that are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/nondomesticrates/

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to introduce anti-avoidance measures following the lowering of the threshold on empty property business rates in April 2010.

Barbara Follett: The Government have no plans to introduce any empty property rates anti-avoidance measures at this time.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have responded to his Department's information-gathering exercise on empty property business rates.

Barbara Follett: All 354 billing authorities in existence as of 31 March 2009 provided data on  (a) the numbers of empty properties as of 31 March 2009 and  (b) of those, the number of empty properties with a rateable value of less than £15,000. The data were provided on the billing authority's annual NNDR3 return.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations have responded to his Department's consultation on modernising empty property relief.

Barbara Follett: A list of respondents to the consultation is contained in the summary of responses document at Annex A. The summary can be found at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/meprresponse
	A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library of the House.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) yacht clubs and  (b) fishing companies located within the curtilages of ports are liable to pay business rates on a retrospective basis following the Valuation Office Agency's review of port valuations.

Barbara Follett: The Government do not hold information on the identity of ratepayers liable for business rates. A liable party for business rates will have paramount control of a property. Whether a yacht club or a fishing company has paramount control of a property within the curtilage of a port will depend on the facts of each case. If there is paramount control then it would warrant a separate assessment and if they were not previously assessed then they would have been affected by the review.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many assessments of individual hereditaments there have been by the Valuation Office Agency to date in relation to the new regime of business rates on ports; and how many of these have subsequently been corrected or subjected to an appeal.

Barbara Follett: The assessment of separate occupations is not new and was not introduced by the Valuation Office Agency's review of ports. Over 1,600 properties within the 45 ports in England were separately assessed immediately prior to the completion of the review of each port. As at 8 July 2009 the number of properties within ports that are separately assessed with an effective date of 1 April 2005 is 2,207, a net increase of around 600 compared to the position immediately prior to the review of each port.
	As at 9 September, the Valuation Office Agency has applied fast track arrangements to 703 appeals made by port businesses, 355 of which relate to new business rating assessments with an effective date of 1 April 2005.
	Of the 355 appeals, 154 have been settled, 48 by agreement and 106 withdrawn. Where agreement has been reached this has resulted in a reduction in the rateable value.

Non-Domestic Rates: Take-Away Food

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether operators of mobile food vending vans are liable for the payment of business rates.

Barbara Follett: Mobile food vending vans are not rateable. The sites they park on and any operational base from which they work may have a liability for rates.

Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the 2010 business rates revaluation; and when he expects bills reflecting the revaluation to be issued to those liable for business rates.

Barbara Follett: The 2010 rating list will come into force on 1 April 2010. Regulations implementing the 2010 transitional arrangements will be made before the end of December 2009 and the small business non-domestic multiplier and the national non-domestic multiplier will be confirmed in the new year after Parliament approves the Local Government Finance Report. The issuing of rates bills is a matter for Billing Authorities, but we expect that rate bills for 2010-11 will be issued by Billing Authorities during March 2010.

Official Hospitality

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 203W, on official hospitality, if he will place in the Library a copy of each page of his Department's staff handbook relating to guidance on the declaration of gifts, hospitality and financial interests.

Barbara Follett: A copy of the pages of the Department's staff handbook relating to guidance on the declaration of gifts, hospitality and financial interests will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Oxford Economic Forecasting

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) research and  (b) reports have been commissioned from Oxford Economic Forecasting by his Department and its agencies in the last 36 months.

Barbara Follett: Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors are available from our Research Database (RD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/
	The database provides information on projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government and predecessor departments going back to 30 November 2001. This includes the subject, contractor and cost of each research commission.

Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to  (a) councillors and  (b) local planning authorities on consideration to be given to issues of (i) predisposition and (ii) predetermination in determining the outcome of planning applications.

Ian Austin: Predisposition and predetermination in relation to the conduct of councillors and officers fall within the wider consideration of probity.
	The Local Government Act 2000 introduced a requirement for each local authority to adopt a code of conduct for councillors, based on the Model Code of Conduct set by the Government and endorsed by Parliament. All councillors have to give a written undertaking to observe the code, or cease to be a member of the authority. The current Model Code, introduced in 2007, sets new rules on personal and prejudicial interests. The Code may be viewed at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20071159_en_1
	The Standards Board for England, the strategic regulator for local authority standards committees and the body which works with councillors and conduct regime practitioners, issues guidance on the code of conduct. The Standards Board has also issued a paper on predisposition, predetermination and bias.
	The Department has not issued any guidance for local authority employees. Local authority employees' behaviour regarding the consideration of planning applications would be determined by their terms and conditions of employment. In addition, the employing authority may have a code of conduct for employees addressing this issue. The Local Government Association has issued guidance in "Probity in Planning: The Role of Councillors and Officers - Revised Guidance Note on Good Planning Practice for Councillors and Officers Dealing With Planning Matters". This can be viewed at:
	http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/1940404

Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what types of planning application were not considered by local planning authorities, prior to the establishment of the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Ian Austin: Planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 are made to the relevant local planning authority. In London, the Mayor has powers to take certain planning decisions. The Secretary of State deals with appeals and projects called in for determination.
	Nationally significant infrastructure projects will in future be considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission which will in general replace consents granted by Ministers under a range of different Acts such as the Highways Act 1980, Electricity Act 1989 and Transport and Works Act 1992.

Planning Permission: Agriculture

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 17 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1339W, on planning: agriculture, what changes there have been to planning policy on the protection of the best and most versatile agricultural land since October 2007; and whether the new Planning Policy Statement 4 will include further changes to the regime.

Ian Austin: The have been no changes to planning policy on the protection of best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land since October 2007. The Government's planning policy on BMV agricultural land is set out in Planning Policy Statement 7 (PPS7): "Sustainable Development in Rural Areas" published in August 2004.
	The new Planning Policy Statement 4 (PPS4): Planning for Prosperous Economies will not include any policies on BMV agricultural land. The relevant policies in PPS7 will continue to apply.

Planning Permission: Fees and Charges

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what discretion local authorities have in determining the fees payable by applicants seeking to extend existing planning consents for up to three years from 1 October 2009;
	(2)  what statutory level of fees is payable by applicants seeking to extend existing planning consents by up to three years from 1 October 2009;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the merits of setting at £500 the fee charged by local authorities applying for an extension to existing planning permissions for up to three years from 1 October 2009.

Ian Austin: Fees are currently set through The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) Regulations 1989 as amended by The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008. Local authorities are not able to apply discretion to the regulations. Until the fees regulations are further amended later this year, the level of fee payable for an application to extend the time limits for implementation of an existing planning permission is as it would be for a new application for the same development. When the fees regulations are amended, a reduced fee level will be payable. Proposed fee levels, which are currently under consideration, are for £500 for a major development, £50 for a householder application and £170 for any other application. The fee levels will be subject to parliamentary debates in both Houses before coming into force.

Planning Permission: Parking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether section 51 of Planning Policy Statement 3 on parking overrides the maximum parking standards for residential development contained in the 2001 edition of Planning Policy Guidance 13 on Transport;
	(2)  what changes his Department and its predecessors have made to  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum parking standards in planning guidance since 2001;
	(3)  whether his Department has set any targets to reduce car ownership through the application of planning policy;
	(4)  whether his Department has issued any recent guidance to local planning authorities on the grant of planning permission for the construction of new garages for purposes other than the storage of vehicles;
	(5)  whether an impact assessment was produced to accompany  (a) the 2000 edition of PPG3 and  (b) the 2001 edition of PPG13;
	(6)  if he will make it his policy to amend planning policy guidance to abolish maximum parking standards.

Ian Austin: PPS3 paragraph 51 does not override PPG13. Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS 3) and Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: Transport (PPG 13) should be read together.
	The original Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (2000) contained a reference to minimum parking for residential units of 1.5 spaces per unit. This policy was removed in PPS 3 (2006). PPG 13 makes it clear that there should be no minimum parking standards for development, other than for disabled people. The maximum car parking standards in PPG 13 remain unchanged since 2001. The requirement for maximum standards continues in the current draft Planning Policy Statement 4:Planning for Prosperous Economies.
	The Government have not set any targets to reduce car ownership through planning policy.
	A specific regulatory impact assessment was not prepared for the 2001 edition of PPG 13. The sustainable site location policies set out in PPG 13 are repeated in other Planning Policy Statements (including 1, 3 and draft PPS 4) which do have impact assessments. The draft PPS 4 consultation impact assessment considers non-residential parking policy issues. The impact assessment is part of the consultation document available on the Communities and Local Government website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/consultationeconomicpps.pdf
	A regulatory impact assessment was produced for PPS 3, which superseded PPG 3, and is available on the Communities and Local Government website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/pps3ria
	This impact assessment considers residential parking policy issues.

Planning Permission: Parking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning applications the Planning Inspectorate has allowed at appeal in the last 12 months where a condition of granting the application included a requirement that the garage accommodation which formed part of the application be kept available for the parking of vehicles at all times.

Ian Austin: Data in relation to conditions imposed as a result of planning appeals that have been allowed are not held centrally by the Planning Inspectorate and could be recovered only at disproportionate cost.

Public Houses: Postal Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public houses have post offices facilities within them, according to rating list records held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Barbara Follett: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Public Works Loan Board

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to review the costs to local authorities of making early repayments to the Public Works Loan Board.

Barbara Follett: The UK Debt Management Office, together with the Public Works Loan Board and HM Treasury is currently reviewing the frequency with which fixed interest rates are set. The consultation document is available on the Debt Management Office website at:
	http://www.dmo.gov.uk/documentview.aspx?docname=PWLB/condoc20090928.pdf&page=

Quirk Review

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which recommendations of the Quirk Review have  (a) been and  (b) not been implemented.

Barbara Follett: "Making Assets Work", the Quirk Review of Community Management and Ownership of Public Assets, was published in May 2007. The Government accepted its recommendations and published their response to the Quirk Review, "Opening the Transfer Window". Action has been taken to implement all the recommendations and has included a widespread promotional campaign; publishing guidance on managing risks in asset transfer; updating local authority asset management guidance; and the Advancing Assets demonstration programme to support local authority and community partners in asset transfer. The Advancing Assets programme is continuing and a dedicated Asset Transfer Unit has been established to provide independent guidance, advice and support on asset transfer.

Rates and Rating

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the rating system for on-sale premises on their competitive position in relation to supermarkets; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: We have made no assessment of the effects of the rating system on public houses.

Recycling

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the treatment of  (a) local authority collection of garden waste and  (b) home composting of garden waste for the purposes of assessing progress towards local authority recycling targets.

Dan Norris: I have been asked to reply.
	Local authorities in England no longer have centrally imposed statutory targets on recycling and composting-this is consistent with Government policy to give local areas more freedom and flexibility on how they deliver national objectives.
	The Government believe local authorities are better placed to make decisions on the best waste management strategy for their local area, so it does not direct or interfere in the decisions they make.
	DEFRA has not provided any specific guidance but provides a range of targeted support to help local authorities deliver their targets through bodies such as the Waste Implementation Programme and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
	WRAP has also been working on a model to calculate how much waste is diverted from landfill via home composting. The model, once complete, could help councils include home composting in targets to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill under the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.

Regional Planning and Development: Green Belt

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which locations the draft regional spatial strategies submitted to his Department recommend a review of green belt protection.

Ian Austin: A Regional Spatial Strategy, whether in draft or in its final form issued by the Secretary State, would not affect the level of protection afforded to Green Belt. This is set out in National Planning Policy. Policies in Regional Spatial Strategies may recommend that, in a particular area, there should be a review of land designated as green belt.

Regional Planning and Development: South East

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to undertake new strategic environmental assessments on the South East Regional Spatial Strategy.

Ian Austin: There are currently a number of legal challenges to the south-east regional spatial strategy which relate to the adequacy of the strategic environmental assessment that was undertaken and we are awaiting the outcome of court proceedings.

Social Rented Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what 39 data items are recorded for an average property on the National Register of Social Housing.

Ian Austin: The National Register of Social Housing records, on average, 39 data items for each dwelling. The following are the 39 most-recorded data items, as of 6 October 2009.
	 NROSH data item description:
	Local Authority Location of Dwelling
	National Land and Property Gazetteer Unique Property Reference Number
	Data provider's Property Reference Number
	Supporting People Administering Authority Reference Number
	Confirmation of ownership
	Code of the Owner
	Confirmation of manager
	Data provider's estate name
	Data provider's estate reference number
	Data provider's block or scheme name
	Data provider's block or scheme reference number
	Social Rented Housing Categories
	Self contained or not self contained
	Furnished or unfurnished
	Valuation
	Cloned valuation
	Date of valuation
	Type of dwelling
	Form of structure
	Number of floors in the dwelling
	Floor in the block on which the dwelling is located
	Purpose built or converted
	Year built
	Year built is estimate
	Type of Construction
	Number of private living rooms
	Number of bedrooms
	Number of bed spaces
	Basis for SAP Rating
	Decent Homes Standard date of inspection
	Standard of thermal efficiency
	Dates occupied
	Dates vacated
	Choice based lettings
	Tenure Type
	Rent payments per year
	Rent
	Target rent
	Helpline

Social Rented Housing: Foreigners

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of social housing was allocated between 2002 and 2007 to tenants who were not born in the United Kingdom.

Ian Austin: This information is not available.
	Information on the number of social housing lettings is collected through the Continuous Recording of Letting form (CORE). Place of birth is not recorded.
	For estimates of allocations by nationality, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 1 September 2009,  Official Report, column 1844W.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated for achievement of the Decent Homes standard in each of the next three years.

Ian Austin: Decisions on future years' funding for Decent Homes have not yet been taken.

Solution Establishment Workshop

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) purpose and  (b) nature of the Solution Establishment Workshop (SEW) set up under FireControl is; when SEW commenced work; what functions SEW has been assigned; when SEW is expected to complete its work; and whether he expects outcomes from the SEW exercise to be published.

Shahid Malik: holding  answer  12 October 2009
	The purpose of the FireControl Solution Establishment Workshops (SEWs) is to bring together key partners in the Fire and Rescue Service, the Department and EADS to design and develop the IT system. The SEWs will ensure that the system meets mandatory requirements and the operational needs of the users, and builds on the work completed so far in order to deliver an effective, resilient network. The SEWs build on an extensive series of technical workshops which have taken place since the project was awarded in 2007.
	SEWs began work on 22 June 2009 and are scheduled to complete their work in November 2009. The outcomes from the SEW exercise will be communicated to key stakeholders.

Surrey Police: Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what outturn total Band D council tax bill was levied in each billing authority in Surrey in 2009-10 following the capping of Surrey Police Authority.

Barbara Follett: Details of the average band D council tax payable in 2009-10 in each billing authority in Surrey following the designation of the Surrey police authority are shown in the table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Elmbridge 1,483 
			 Epsom and Ewell 1,442 
			 Guildford 1,447 
			 Mole Valley 1,438 
			 Reigate and Banstead 1,482 
			 Runnymede 1,416 
			 Spelthorne 1,450 
			 Surrey Heath 1,482 
			 Tandridge 1,484 
			 Waverley 1,482 
			 Woking 1,483 
		
	
	The information is also available in table 6 of the statistical release "Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2009-10 (Revised)" that was published on the Communities and Local Government website on 30 July and is available at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistis/counciltax/rates/

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable his Department has set for the  (a) consideration and  (b) approval of local authority proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.

Barbara Follett: The timetable for the consideration and approval of local authority proposals made under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 will be determined by the number and complexity of proposals shortlisted by the selector.

Wind Power: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's guidance and methodology for valuing wind turbines; and what criteria apply to the inclusion of power generation in the  (a) national and  (b) local rating list.

Barbara Follett: The guidance and methodology for valuing wind turbines for rating purposes is set out in the VOA Rating Manual, which can be found on the VOA website:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/instructions/chapters/rating_manual/vol5/sect530/frame.htm
	Since April 2000 power generators have appeared in local rating lists. The identity of the occupier, the purpose of occupation and the extent of property occupied is generally straightforward and normally within a small geographical area and a single billing authority.
	The central rating list contains network properties such as the Transco gas networks and the clean water supply companies. These hereditaments cover large areas and numerous administrative boundaries.

Working Conditions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines given to staff of his Department on the flexi-desk environment in operation in his Department.

Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government adopted a core brief for all staff moving to flexible desking and applied small modifications to this if a Directorate should have any particular needs.
	Briefings material issued to the Human Resources Directorate have been lodged in the Library of the House as an example.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Casinos

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of progress in establishing a casino in each of the local authority areas where  (a) a large and  (b) a small casino is permitted.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Officials attend regular meetings with the 16 licensing authorities permitted to issue large and small casino premises licences in order to provide advice and support where it is requested by them. It remains up to the individual licensing authorities to decide when to announce their process and timetable for applications for the new premises licences.

Horse Racing: Betting

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made in relation to the modernisation of the Horse Race Betting Levy; what progress he expects to be made in the next three months; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The recently ratified 49th Levy scheme will bring some much needed stability and certainty for the racing and bookmaking industries. They must now build on this momentum to work together for the benefit of racing and come to their own agreements rather than relying on Government to adjudicate. I am very pleased Paul Lee has taken on the role of Levy Board chair as I believe he will provide the kind of leadership needed to proceed with modernising the Levy. I am meeting him shortly and look forward to hearing his thoughts on the next steps.

Horserace Totalisator Board

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from organisations interested in buying the Tote; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on consultancy fees in relation to the sale of the Tote; how much he expects to spend on such fees; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he plans to guarantee the jobs of Tote staff on the sale of the Tote; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will take steps to ensure that the internet services provided by the Tote are not transferred abroad on the sale of the Tote; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The arrangements for the sale of the Tote are yet to be determined and discussions are continuing with all the relevant parties. The present intention is that the sale process itself will not start until summer 2010 with a latest completion date of March 2011. We expect to be able to give further details on the process in the next few months.
	The Government's position remains that we will honour our commitment to return half of the net proceeds of any market sale to racing subject to the requirements of European state aid and competition rules. I am unable to disclose commercially confidential or sensitive information about the valuation of the tote or prospective Government payments to agents.

Horserace Totalisator Board

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when  (a) he and  (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Bradford South, were first informed of the recent announcement of proposals for the sale of the Tote.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Discussions on possible plans to realise the full value of various assets, including the Tote, have been taking place over the last few weeks. A decision in principle was made by Ministers to include the Tote in the list of assets to be sold on 23 September 2009, subject to agreement by colleagues.

Licensing Laws: Languages

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of languages in which tests related to obtaining a personal licence for the retail sale of alcohol are administered.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department's criteria for accredited personal licence course providers do not stipulate that examinations must be taken in languages other than English. Course providers are free to make a commercial decision to allow the examination to be taken in other languages if there is a demand for such a service.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the number of  (a) direct and  (b) indirect jobs in the supply chain which would be created as a result of the construction of the two proposed new aircraft carriers; what information his Department holds on the number of such jobs which would be created in each constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: It is anticipated that work on the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers will create or sustain between 7-8000 jobs at the Tier 1 shipyards in Glasgow, Rosyth, Portsmouth and Devon. We do not hold information relating to the number of indirect jobs or the breakdown of jobs in each constituency. Throughout the supply chain we expect companies to employ local people thereby boosting local economies across the UK.

Cyprus: Military Bases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what green technologies have been installed in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

Kevan Jones: All Service family accommodation built in the last 15 years and all new single living accommodation in Cyprus includes green technology in the form of solar panels to provide supplementary heating of hot water. These panels are also fitted into older properties where it is cost effective to do so.
	A number of other environmental initiatives are in place within the Sovereign Base Area, including the installation of showers in all new-builds to conserve water, designing buildings to maximise thermal efficiency thereby minimising the requirement for air conditioning, and a recycling service.

Israel: Military Aid

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what official links there are between UK and Israeli armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Our defence relationship with Israel is in line with HMG's policy in support of the Middle East Peace Process of having a balanced relationship with the Israelis and the Palestinians. We periodically have formal strategic level dialogue and engagement with Israeli military and civilian defence staff counterparts, including some direct contact in support of our equipment procurement programmes.

Radar: Wind Power

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 797W, on radar: wind power, how many pre-planning applications his Department had objected to on the grounds of interference with defence equipment on the latest date for which figures are available; how many such applications related to sites in Scotland; and how many such applications in  (a) the UK and  (b) Scotland were subsequently withdrawn.

Kevan Jones: Between January 2006 and 7 October 2009, the Ministry of Defence has been consulted on 3,502 pre-planning applications and has expressed concerns to 1,054 of the pre-planning applications on the grounds of interference with defence equipment and or operations. Of those concerns, 233 are related to onshore sites in Scotland. Information appertaining to applications that have been withdrawn is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The following table provided illustrates each years total number of pre-planning applications.
	
		
			   Total number of pre-applications  Concerns 
			 2006 731 343 
			 2007 802 327 
			 2008 1037 320 
			 2009 932 64 
		
	
	Typically assessments take several months to complete due to the complexity of each individual assessment and the volume of pre-planning applications consulted on. As a result 846 pre-planning applications submitted in 2008-09 are currently undergoing assessment. It is likely that concerns will be raised for some of these outstanding pre-applications. However, where concerns are raised, mitigation options will be suggested to the developer where possible.

University Officer Training Corps

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the operation of the University Officer Training Corps in the next six months.

Kevan Jones: The Army has taken a number of savings measures in order to stay within agreed funding allocation for this financial year. As part of these savings, all University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) cadet and volunteer instructor pay will cease until April 2010. This will generate savings of £3 million.
	It is hoped that the majority of core training activity, specifically the Military Leadership and Development Programme, will continue on a voluntary basis. Undergraduates and volunteer instructors will continue to be reimbursed for travel and subsistence costs.
	Non-core training activities may also continue on a voluntary basis at the discretion of Commanding Officers subject to the availability of volunteer instructors.

Wind Power

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 296W, on wind power, to which wind farm proposals his Department has objected since January 2008; and for what reasons in each case.

Kevan Jones: Since January 2008 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has objected to 52 wind farm planning applications, the details of which are recorded in the following table.
	
		
			   Site name  Planning authority  Reason for MOD objection 
			  2008 Waun Garno Powys County Council Unacceptable restriction on operational low flying 
			  East Skichen Angus Council Interference with air traffic control (ATC) radar 
			  Dusty Drum Angus Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  North Hall East Riding Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Redland Caradon County Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Hook Moor Leeds City Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Chittering South Cambridgeshire District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Gwyndy Quarry Gaia 1 Isle of Anglesey Interference with ATC radar 
			  French Farm Peterborough City Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Rothes Extension Scottish Government Interference with ATC radar 
			  Little White Alice Kerrier District Council Interference with Fleet radar 
			  Kingsthorpe stables West Lindsey District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Withernwick East Riding Council Interference with air defence (AD) radar 
			  The Firs Aberdeenshire Council Interference with AD radar 
			  Brunel University Hillingdon London Borough Interference with ATC radar 
			  Maer Hills Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Woodside Farm Moray Council Interference with ATC radar and statutory safeguarding concerns 
			  Everest Community College Hampshire County Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Briar Lodge North Shropshire District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			 
			  2009 Todd Hill Castle Morpeth Borough Council Interference with threat radars 
			  Close Farm Hambleton District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Trevena Cross Nurseries Kerrier District Council Interference with Fleet radar 
			  Race Bank Department of Energy and Climate Change Interference with AD radar 
			  Neslam Farm South Kesteven Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Greenacre Kerrier District Council Interference with Fleet radar 
			  Docking Shoal Department of Energy and Climate Change Interference with ATC radar 
			  Linton Uttlesford District Council, South Cambs District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Cloffrickford Aberdeenshire Council Interference with Met Office radar 
			  Heysham Lancaster City Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Sycamore Farm North Kesteven District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Howe Hills Wind Farm Durham County Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Burnthouse Fenland District Interference with ATC radar 
			  Dun Law II East Lothian Council Interference with threat radar 
			  Woodlane Selby District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Carnebone Cornwall Council Interference with Fleet radar 
			  Dusty Drum Angus Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Solwaybank Dumfries and Galloway Council Unacceptable restriction on low flying, interference with ATC radar 
			  Bishopwood Selby District Council Interference with ATC radar and statutory safeguarding concerns 
			  Branston Community College Lincolnshire County Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Baumber East Lindsay District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Llwchyrhal Uchaf Ceredigion Interference with ATC radar 
			  St. Ivo Outdoor Centre Huntingdon District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Rosewain Farm Allerdale Borough Council Interference with NATS radar (military) and threat radar 
			  H&H Celcon East Riding of Yorkshire Interference with ATC radar 
			  Auckland House Wiltshire Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Saughmont Angus Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  CleekHall Selby District Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Saywell Boston Borough Council Interference with ATC radar 
			  Carlesgill extension Dumfries and Galloway Council Interference with threat radar and Eskdalemuir Seismological Recording Station 
			  Infinis Westfield Fife Council Interference with Met Office radar 
			  Bower Hinton South Somerset District Council Interference with Fleet radar 
			  Monynut Scottish Government Interference with AD radar 
		
	
	The MOD only objects to planning applications for wind farms where it is essential to do so. All wind farm applications that we assess are subject to individual consideration. We consider a range of factors such as safety or the impact on Air Defence or Air Traffic radars and objections will only be lodged against planning applications if the operational impact is assessed as being unmanageable. Even where concerns are raised, mitigation options will be suggested to the developer where possible.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Coal: Industrial Health and Safety

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) live optional risk offer scheme and  (b) dead optional risk offer scheme coal health compensation scheme applications have been made by the 50 solicitors' firms which have made the highest number of each type of claim.

David Kidney: The number of awards made under the Live Optional Risk Offer Scheme (LOROS) and Dead Optional Risk Offer Scheme (DOROS) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) claims submitted by the 50 highest claimants' representatives under the coal health compensation scheme is shown in the following tables as at 4 October 2009.
	
		
			  Coal compensation claims where applications have been made under the LOROS scheme 
			  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 
			  Claimants'  representatives  Location  Total LOROS  claims 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster 11,104 
			 Browell Smith and Co Newcastle Upon Tyne 6,414 
			 Raleys Solicitors Barnsley 5,740 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers Mansfield 4,627 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 4,318 
			 Hugh James Respiratory Disease Dept 3,743 
			 Avalon Solicitors Warrington 3,379 
			 Watson Burton LLP Newcastle Upon Tyne 3,117 
			 Graysons Solicitors Sheffield 2,673 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster (Scottish Claims) 1,499 
			 Delta Legal Manchester 1,471 
			 Barber and Co Liverpool 1,446 
			 Gorman Hamilton Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 1,249 
			 TLW Solicitors North Shields 1,242 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Edinburgh - Scottish Claims Only 1,215 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster (UDM Only) 1,172 
			 Corries York York 1,007 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin Llanelli 933 
			 Corries Solicitors Glasgow - Scottish Claims Only 833 
			 Ingrams Solicitors Hull - COPD Only 802 
			 Moss Solicitors Loughborough 760 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 721 
			 Towells Solicitors Wakefield 702 
			 Ashton Morton Slack LLP Sheffield 672 
			 Birchall Blackburn Preston 660 
			 1 Legal Solicitors Swansea 620 
			 Hilary Meredith Solicitors Wilmslow 608 
			 Ashton Morton Slack LLP AMS UDM Claims Only 587 
			 Saffmans Solicitors Leeds 470 
			 Moss Solicitors Moss UDM Claims Only 465 
			 Shaw and Co Solicitors Doncaster 426 
			 Atteys Rotherham 417 
			 O H Parsons and Partners Solicitors London 412 
			 Recompense Limited Totnes 399 
			 Bailey Bravo Jobling London 389 
			 Latham and Co Solicitors Leicester 363 
			 Morisons Solicitors Edinburgh - Scottish Claims Only 344 
			 BHP LAW Belmont 339 
			 Simpson Millar Solicitors Leeds 335 
			 Onyems and Partners Essex 312 
			 McConville O'Neill Solicitors Glasgow - Scottish 299 
			 Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Sheffield 288 
			 Meloy Whittle Robinson Preston 286 
			 BRM Solicitors Chesterfield 282 
			 Avalon Solicitors Manchester (Scottish Only) 277 
			 Oxley and Coward Solicitors Rotherham 228 
			 Mortons Solicitors Sunderland 199 
			 Cordner Lewis Solicitors Cardiff 184 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse Newcastle Upon Tyne 173 
			 Gorman Hamilton Solicitors Newcastle - SPSSG only 157 
			 Total  70,358 
		
	
	
		
			  Coal compensation claims where applications have been made under the DOROS scheme 
			  Chronic Obstructive  Pulmonary Disease 
			  Claimants'  representatives  Location  Total DOROS  claims 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster 16,337 
			 Hugh James Respiratory Disease Dept 11,021 
			 Raleys Solicitors Barnsley 9,564 
			 Avalon Solicitors Warrington 9,087 
			 Barber and Co Liverpool 5,125 
			 Browell Smith and Co Newcastle Upon Tyne 4,486 
			 Delta Legal Manchester 4,214 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 3,701 
			 Avalon Solicitors Manchester (Scottish Only) 2,696 
			 BRM Solicitors Chesterfield 2,394 
			 Thompsons Solicitors Edinburgh - Scottish claims only 2,256 
			 Ashton Morton Slack LLP Sheffield 2,127 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse Newcastle Upon Tyne 1,707 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin Llanelli 1,578 
			 Hilary Meredith Solicitors Wilmslow 1,483 
			 Ingrams Solicitors Hull - COPD Only 1,330 
			 Watson Burton LLP Newcastle Upon Tyne 1,282 
			 Corries York York 1,201 
			 1 Legal Solicitors Swansea 1,197 
			 Onyems and Partners Essex 927 
			 Bailey Bravo Jobling London 880 
			 Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers Victoria 783 
			 Beresfords Solicitors Doncaster (Scottish Claims) 772 
			 Graysons Solicitors Sheffield 734 
			 Corries Solicitors Glasgow - Scottish Claims Only 700 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse Newcastle Upon Tyne (Scottish Only) 691 
			 Cordner Lewis Solicitors Cardiff 686 
			 TLW Solicitors North Shields 676 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 628 
			 Birchall Blackburn Preston 576 
			 Wake Smith and Tofields Solicitors Sheffield 539 
			 Recompense Limited Totnes 514 
			 McConville O'Neill Solicitors Glasgow - Scottish 403 
			 Atteys Rotherham 327 
			 Simpson Millar Solicitors Leeds 319 
			 Raleys Solicitors Barnsley (Scottish Claims) 300 
			 SIS Law Menai Bridge 288 
			 MK Legal LLP Solicitors Milton Keynes 226 
			 Gorman Hamilton Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 216 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers Mansfield 213 
			 Meloy Whittle Robinson Preston 197 
			 Shaw and Co Solicitors Doncaster 182 
			 Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Sheffield 177 
			 Moss Solicitors Loughborough 175 
			 Irwin Mitchell Solicitors St Peters House (Scottish COPD claims only) 172 
			 Corries Solicitors York Scottish claims only 156 
			 MLM Solicitors Cardiff 145 
			 Marrons Solicitors Newcastle Upon Tyne 141 
			 Wake Smith and Tofields Solicitors Sheffield - UDM Claims Only 135 
			 T S Edwards and Son Solicitors Ystrad Mynach 129 
			 Total  95,793

Coal: Industrial Health and Safety

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has paid in probate costs in relation to the coal health compensation scheme to each firm of solicitors operating for claimants in  (a) Bassetlaw constituency and  (b) England and Wales; and how many such claims for probate costs have been received.

David Kidney: I will place in the Libraries of the House tables which show how much in probate costs the Department has paid out under the coal health compensation schemes in respect of Bassetlaw constituency and in England and Wales as at 4 October 2009.
	There were no probate costs in Bassetlaw constituency under the Vibration White Finger scheme.
	The figures reflect probate costs that were paid after May 2006. Prior to this date probate costs were not recorded separately and the Department is unable to report on them. The Department is unable to provide the number of claims made for probate costs as these are also not recorded separately.

Departmental Buildings: Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificate and  (b) advisory report for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) the Coal Authority, (ii) the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, (iii) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, (iv) the Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement Technologies, (v) the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, (vi) the Renewables Advisory Board, (vii) the UK Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee, (viii) the Committee on Climate Change, (ix) the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management and (x) the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.

David Kidney: Copies of the display energy certificate (DEC) and advisory report for buildings occupied by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Ofgem will be placed in the Libraries of the House. A display energy certificate and advisory report for the Coal Authority's headquarters in Mansfield is awaited and will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.
	A display energy certificate (DEC) rating has not been completed for the building that the CCC currently occupies. If and when it is conducted, the CCC will send it to the House Libraries for display. The decision over whether to apply for a DEC rating for the building is up to the building manager and the CCC has no jurisdiction over this. The CCC recently had an energy performance certificate produced for its offices. The CCC's offices were awarded an E-rating for energy efficiency. Copies of the energy performance certificate have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The Advisory Group on Carbon Abatement Technologies, Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, Renewables Advisory Board, the UK Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee and the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management do not occupy their own property.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has lead responsibility for the UK Atomic Energy Authority. UKAEA does not have any properties which fall within the requirements of the legislation.

Heating: Fuels

Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans further regulation of the heating fuels sector; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 9 September 2009
	The Gas Act 1986 (as amended), which amongst other things set up the gas regulatory bodies, exempted heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from its provisions. The Gas Act principally addressed the issues of setting up a regulatory regime to ensure that the national transmission system for gas users was not exploited. In contrast, there is no natural monopoly in the transport of heating oil or LPG by road. The heating fuels market operates with a number of distributors competing for supply using alternative supply sources. In that sense, it is broadly similar to other products such as diesel and petrol. The Department therefore has no plans for the economic regulation of the heating fuels sector.
	The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which will encourage the uptake of renewable heat generation, to meet our renewable energy and carbon targets, will be funded through a levy on suppliers of fossil fuel for heat. It is intended that the scheme will be introduced from April 2011 with the detail of the scheme being set out in secondary legislation under Section 100 of the Energy Act 2008.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to assist park home residents to reduce their  (a) carbon dioxide emissions and  (b) heating bills.

Joan Ruddock: It is difficult to reduce the carbon emissions and heating bills of park homes due to the lack of scope for key energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall and loft insulation. Where scope does exist, such as through draught-proofing and high-efficiency lights and appliances, assistance is available to park homes residents through schemes such as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Warm Front.
	Warm Front is currently working in partnership with a gas distributor and a local residents association to enable 61 residents of Elm Tree caravan park in Hartlepool to be connected to the mains gas network. This project meant these homes, previously utilising liquid petroleum gas, coal or forms of electric heating, reduced their likely energy bills and likely carbon consumption. The project considerably reduced the otherwise prohibitive cost that had prevented each park home individually connecting to the gas network.
	The Warm Front scheme has also begun a piloting exercise of external wall insulation for 100 park home properties. If this trial is successful, then this may be included as a main measure offered through the scheme.
	Free expert advice on practical ways to save energy in the home is also available through the ACT ON C02 advice line.

Warm Front Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the referrals generated by the Warm Front marketing team which are second surveys.

David Kidney: Warm Front has assisted 2,069,069 households to date (30 September 2009), of which 0.5 per cent. (10,725) have received a second survey.

Warm Front Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria were used to assess the  (a) cost-effectiveness and  (b) reliability of Ideal ISAR (i) 24HE and (ii) 30HE condensing boilers for use by Eaga plc under the Warm Front scheme.

David Kidney: The Ideal ISAR 24HE and 30HE boilers were approved by DECC's predecessor Department, DEFRA, for use on the Warm Front Scheme at the start of the current phase of the scheme in 2005.
	The Ideal ISAR boiler and other boilers were reviewed by the Grant Aided Installer Network (GAIN) who concluded that the ISAR range of boilers was the most reliable and cost effective on the market at the time.
	Eaga, the scheme manager, and the Department continually reviews feedback from customers, installers, inspectors and the scheme aftercare providers to identify major reliability issues with any of the products used on the scheme.

Warm Front Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on Eaga plc's commercial interest in WarmSure Ltd. in relation to the Warm Front Scheme.

David Kidney: The use of WarmSure for the provision of Warm Front aftercare services was agreed with Eaga as part of their contract with DECC to deliver the Warm Front Scheme.
	It is not possible to provide information on third party representations specifically in relation to Eaga's commercial interest in WarmSure, without incurring disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bottles: Recycling

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of a national bottle deposit scheme in reducing littering.

Dan Norris: In December 2008 DEFRA published a report looking at the features of packaging deposit systems and the role they might play in increasing recovery and recycling and reducing littering in the UK. The report found little hard evidence to suggest that deposit schemes reduce littering and thought that the major impact of such a scheme would be to divert packaging from waste bins to recycling bins.
	Overall, the report concluded that resources could be more effectively used in improving current systems than in developing a parallel one for deposits on packaging. Improving household collections and developing the away from home recycling infrastructure are likely to be more cost-effective in increasing recycling and tackling litter.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of implementing statutory measures to control bovine tuberculosis in each of the next five years; and what estimate he has made of the likely reduction in such costs consequent on control measures introduced by his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Forecasting spend on bovine TB is extremely difficult not least because there has often been significant year to year fluctuations in the number of infected cattle disclosed through testing and slaughterhouse surveillance. Spend on testing and compensation forms a major part of our TB control costs-future spend in these areas is highly dependent on the number of TB infected cattle disclosed and prevailing open market prices for cattle (since compensation paid through table valuations is directly linked to open market prices).

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the requirement under EU Directive 64/432/EEC that all farms in a country where bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is greater than one per cent. of the cattle herd be tested for bTB annually was abandoned.

Jim Fitzpatrick: EU Directive 64/432/EEC requires annual testing where bTB prevalence is greater than 1 per cent. in a 'defined area'. Historically, England has used parishes (not the country as a whole) as the defined area for setting TB testing intervals, and these have been reviewed annually.
	In accordance with a recommendation from the TB Eradication Group for England we are developing a new approach for determining routine TB testing intervals, that more effectively takes account of local TB risks. While this work is ongoing, an interim regime will be in place from 1 January 2010.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to his Department and its predecessor of  (a) compensation paid directly to farmers for removal of animals,  (b) veterinary tuberculin testing,  (c) haulage for removal of animals,  (d) abattoir and official veterinary surgeon services in respect of slaughter,  (e) on-farm slaughter,  (f) disposal and incineration and  (g) valuation fees was in respect of the implementation of statutory testing and slaughter under bovine tuberculosis regulations of (i) cattle classed as bovine tuberculosis reactors, inconclusives or dangerous contact animals and (ii) all other mammals (A) between 1986 and 1996 and (B) since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table provides a summary of TB related expenditure incurred by DEFRA in relation to compensation, testing, haulage/disposal of livestock compulsorily slaughtered on TB control grounds, and valuers' fees. The way in which financial data have been collected/collated means that we are not able to provide a detailed breakdown of spend, in the form the hon. Gentleman has requested, for the years prior to 1999.
	I am unable to provide details of Government staff costs related to 'in-abattoir' controls: policy responsibility for a key element of this work (verifying that meat is fit for human consumption) rests with the Food Standards Agency, rather than DEFRA. Also, the costs of on-farm slaughter for the small minority of cattle unfit to be sent to licensed abattoirs are not recorded separately.
	
		
			  (£ million) 
			   Compensation paid( 1)  Haulage / Disposal  Valuers fees  Cattle testing( 2) 
			 2007 13.6 1.3 0.0> 32.6 
			 2006 16.4 1.2 0.2 37.7 
			 2005 31.4 1.0 0.5 35 
			 2004 23.7 0.9 0.4 36.4 
			 2003 25.7 0.7 0.5 33.2 
			 2002 21.7 0.7 0.4 24.7 
			 2001 4.6 0.2 0.1 5.4 
			 2000 5.7 0.5 0.1 13.3 
			 1999 3.4 0.1 0.1 17.6 
			 1998 3.6 - - 7.3 
			 1997 2.4 - - 5.5 
			 1996 2.3 - - - 
			 1995 2.0 - - - 
			 1994 2.0 - - - 
			 1993 2.1 - - - 
			 1992 0.7 - - - 
			 1991 0.7 - - - 
			 1990 1.1 - - - 
			 1989 0.6 - - - 
			 1988 0.4 - - - 
			 1987 0.5 - - - 
			 1986 0.3 - - - 
			 (1). Compensation includes payments to farmers for 'reactors' and 'direct contact' animals which are compulsorily slaughtered, and non-bovine species. (2) Cattle testing-the cost of carrying out the testing of cattle for TB by arranging, assessing and monitoring tests, conducting investigations of incident herds and diagnostic testing by Local veterinary Inspectors across GB.  Notes: 1. Data from 1999 have been taken from the DEFRA Oracle Financial System. Information pre-1999 has been taken from the respective annual reports of the Chief Veterinary Officer. 2. Data are provisional and subject to change. 3. DEFRA holds the testing budget for the whole of GB. 4. The 1997 figure is for the calendar year - figures for 1998/99 onwards are per financial year. 5. Valuers' fees - expenditure in 2007 and 2008 was below £100,000. 
		
	
	With regards to livestock disposal costs, no such estimate has been made. For most cattle compulsorily slaughtered on TB control grounds, DEFRA has received a net payment from abattoirs rather than incurred a cost.
	MHS officials inspect carcasses of such cattle when slaughtered in licensed abattoirs, a small proportion of TB affected cattle are condemned as unfit for human consumption e.g. if TB lesions are identified in more than one part of the carcase. In such cases DEFRA does makes a payment to the abattoir to cover its disposal costs. It is not possible to provide details of slaughter costs in the form requested: typically an abattoir will receive batches of cattle being slaughtered on disease control grounds rather than single animals-if one (or more) of these animals is condemned, the cost to DEFRA will be offset by the total salvage value received from those passed as fit for human consumption.

Departmental Buildings

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on (i) electricity, (ii) heat, (iii) water and sewerage services and (iv) disposal of waste on the latest date for which figures are available; what proportion of such (A) electricity and (B) heat was from renewable sources; what the weight was of such waste; what proportion of such waste was recycled; at what cost such waste was recycled; and what area of office floor space (1) his Department and (2) its agencies own or lease.

Dan Norris: The following amounts were spent on energy and water in 2007-08.
	
		
			  Cost  (£) 
			  Organisation  Electricity  Gas  Oil  Water 
			 DEFRA 1,171,745 199,292 29,101 89,651 
			 Animal Health 192,356 59,655 9,853 58,152 
			 MFA 15,379 3,986 2,034 2,820 
			 RPA 537,396 113,370 18,277 72,001 
			 CEFAS 379,799 90,529 0 165,069 
			 FERA (formerly CSL) 1,198,146 460,979 291 81,782 
			 VLA 1,352,292 996,636 229,056 117,190 
			 Total 4,847,113 1,924,447 288,612 586,665 
		
	
	Data for 2008-09 have not yet been verified by OGC therefore cannot be released.
	DEFRA is unable to identify the cost for waste disposal and recycling as this activity is part of a composite facilities management contract specifically engineered to offer value for money, accordingly the individual costs for waste disposal and recycling are not identified. Similarly, the costs of recycling and recovered waste set out below are not individually identifiable.
	In 2007-08, 55.9 per cent. of electricity purchased was from renewable sources. DEFRA did not purchase any gas/heat from renewable sources.
	The DEFRA estate generated 4,816 tonnes of waste, 29 per cent. of the waste was recycled (recycled, composted, re-used externally).
	It should be noted that DEFRA incinerates approximately 30 per cent. of its waste, from which significant quantity of heat and energy is recovered. Current Sustainable Development Commission reporting does not acknowledge energy recovery from waste incineration as recycling or waste recovery under current Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) guidelines. It is expected that energy recovered from incineration will be included in future SOGE targets. DEFRA recovers 60 per cent. of the waste generated (recycled, composted, reused externally, incinerated with energy recovery).
	DEFRA and its core Executive agencies own and lease 230,000 square metres of office space.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificate and  (b) advisory report for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) the Forestry Commission and (ii) the Office of Water Services.

Dan Norris: There are no Display Energy Certificates in Forestry Commission buildings in England as they have all been assessed as outside the requirement for a certificate. In almost all cases this is due to the buildings having a useful floor area of less than 1,000 square metres.
	Ofwat are in the process of obtaining a display energy certificate and advisory report. These will be published by the Office of Government Commerce when available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Dogs: Quarantine

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will relax the quarantine rules in respect of rescue dogs returning to the UK from service overseas; and what representations he has received in respect of the quarantine of the rescue dog Darcy of the urban search and rescue section of the Essex fire and rescue service.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government recognises the excellent work carried out by search and rescue dogs in responding to overseas disasters, such as the recent earthquake in Indonesia, and their rapid and valuable response to such emergencies.
	We also appreciate the difficulty the current quarantine requirements cause for owners of these rescue dogs, particularly the rule requiring that dogs coming into the UK from certain countries, including Indonesia, are placed in quarantine on their arrival. This long standing rule is in place to protect the UK from the incursion of serious diseases such as rabies.
	DEFRA has not received any formal representation in respect of the rescue dog Darcy. However, we are happy to consider ways to support rescue dogs, consistent with the law and the overriding need to protect the UK population from disease.

Farmers: Income

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average annual income of  (a) farmers and  (b) hill farmers in (i) England and (ii) Cumbria was in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following tables show Farm Business Income(1) (FBI) for England and Cumbria for all farm types and for grazing livestock farms in the less favoured areas (LFA). Farm Business Income is the most robust measure of income but is not available prior to 2003-04. Equivalent data are also shown for Net Farm Income(2) (NFI).
	(1) Farm Business Income represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings.
	(2) Net farm income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse alone for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type capital of the business. An imputed rent is deducted for owner-occupied farms as is a charge for other unpaid labour.
	
		
			  All farm types 
			  (£ per farm) 
			   England  Cumbria 
			  March/February  Net farm income  Farm business income  Net farm income  Farm business income 
			 2007-08 38,600 48,100 17,800 25,600 
			 2006-07 26,700 34,400 6,700 15,600 
			 2005-06 21,100 28,600 19,100 18,500 
			 2004-05 21,200 28,300 18,400 18,600 
			 2003-04 29,500 36,800 17,800 18,400 
			 2002-03 16,600 n/a 14,000 n/a 
			 2001-02 14,900 n/a 22,800 n/a 
			 2000-01 10,600 n/a 14,300 n/a 
			 1999-2000 8,700 n/a 9,100 n/a 
			 1998-99 11,500 n/a 10,600 n/a 
			 1997-98 15,200 n/a 14,500 n/a 
			  Source: Business Survey, England 
		
	
	
		
			  LFA grazing livestock 
			  (£ per farm) 
			   England  Cumbria 
			  March/February  Net farm income  Farm business income  Net farm income  Farm business income 
			 2007-08 5,000 10,400 6,000 9,800 
			 2006-07 6,100 10,500 2,200 8,800 
			 2005-06 11,800 15,800 15,700 15,100 
			 2004-05 13,400 16,200 19,600 18,900 
			 2003-04 15,000 17,400 17,500 16,200 
			 2002-03 17,700 n/a 20,100 n/a 
			 2001-02 7,400 n/a 17,700 n/a 
			 2000-01 5,900 n/a 14,200 n/a 
			 1999-2000 5,600 n/a 10,700 n/a 
			 1998-99 6,200 n/a 12,400 n/a 
			 1997-98 12,700 n/a 21,500 n/a 
			  Source: Farm Business Survey, England 
		
	
	 Note:
	The Farm Business Survey sample covers businesses with a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of at least 0.5, i.e. a size considered sufficient to occupy a farmer for at least half their time.

Hill Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hill farmers left the industry in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA does not collect figures on the number of farmers who leave the industry each year. The information collected from the June Survey of Agriculture only allows an indication of net change.
	The total number of holdings classified within Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) from 2000-08 are shown in the following table, along with the number of principal farmers working on these holdings. As many holdings are very small, we have also provided an estimate excluding the very smallest holdings considered to require a farmer less than half-time. This gives a better indication of trends.
	Figures are only available from 2000 onwards as the method of classifying holdings within LFAs changed in 2006 and results were only backdated to 2000. Therefore, results pre-2000 are not comparable.
	
		
			   Number of farmers( 1)  on LFA holdings  Number of farmers( 1)  on LFA holdings of >0.5 SLR( 2)  Total number of LFA holdings  Number of LFA holdings >0.5 SLR( 2) 
			 2000 36,046 21,174 26,806 10,943 
			 2001 38,187 20,092 28,092 10,064 
			 2002 36,524 20,376 29,668 10,360 
			 2003 35,279 19,969 30,058 10,289 
			 2004 36,120 20,057 30,365 10,185 
			 2005 36,131 19,301 30,678 10,310 
			 2006 36,348 19,709 31,501 10,387 
			 2007 35,811 18,459 32,666 10,108 
			 2008 35,828 18,015 33,163 10,148 
			 (1) Farmers are defined as full- and part-time principal farmers, partners, directors and spouses working on holdings. (2) Standard Labour Requirement. The theoretical number of workers required to run a holding, based on its cropping and livestock activities. Results above 0.5 SLR cover farms which require more than half a full-time farmer.  Notes: 1. Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) were established in 1975 as a means to provide support to mountainous and hill farming areas. The present LFAs in England are subdivided into two areas. The more environmentally challenging areas within the LFA are classed as 'Severely Disadvantaged Areas' (SDA). The remainder is classified as 'Disadvantaged Areas' (DA). 2. There has been an increase in registered holdings in recent years for several reasons. The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 led to large increases in the numbers of holdings registered with the RPA. Large numbers of holdings were also registered for animal tracing purposes particularly following the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.  Source: June Survey of Agriculture and central DEFRA definitions of LFA boundaries.

Hill Farming

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hill farms ceased operating as hill farms in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: DEFRA does not collect figures on the number of holdings that cease operating each year. The information collected from the June Survey of Agriculture only allows an indication of net change.
	The total number of holdings classified within Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) for the past five years are shown in the following table. As many holdings are very small, we have also provided an estimate excluding the very smallest holdings considered to require a farmer less than half-time. This gives a better indication of trends.
	
		
			   Total number of LFA holdings  Number of LFA holdings >0.5 SLR( 1) 
			 2004 30,365 10,185 
			 2005 30,678 10,310 
			 2006 31,501 10,387 
			 2007 32,666 10,108 
			 2008 33,163 10,148 
			 (1) Standard Labour Requirement. The theoretical number of workers required to run a holding, based on its cropping and livestock activities. Results above 0.5 SLR cover farms which require more than half a full-time farmer.  Notes: 1. Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) were established in 1975 as a means to provide support to mountainous and hill farming areas. The present LFAs in England are subdivided into two areas. The more environmentally challenging areas within the LFA are classed as 'Severely Disadvantaged Areas' (SDA). The remainder is classified as 'Disadvantaged Areas' (DA). 2. There has been an increase in registered holdings in recent years for several reasons. The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 led to large increases in the numbers of holdings registered with the RPA. Large numbers of holdings were also registered for animal tracing purposes particularly following the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.  Source. June Survey of Agriculture and central DEFRA definitions of LFA boundaries.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the financial effect on farmers of operating inside the new Nitrate Vulnerable Zones with effect from 1 January 2010.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations (2008), which implement the EU Nitrates Directive in England, increase the area designated as nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) to approximately 70 per cent. of the country and tighten the mandatory action programme of measures that apply within these zones. The impact assessment estimates the total annual cost to farmers of complying with the regulations to be £48.5 million-£68.6 million. The UK's successful negotiation of a derogation from the livestock manure N farm limit, one of the more demanding requirements set by the Nitrates Directive, means these costs could be reduced by £16.9 million to £21.7 million per annum.
	The impact assessment can be downloaded via
	www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20082349_en.pdf

Ragwort: Disease Control

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has undertaken on the extent of ragwort poisoning of horses; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has not undertaken any specific studies on the extent of ragwort poisoning of horses. However, DEFRA's policy under the Weeds Act 1959 is to control injurious weeds where there is a threat to animal welfare or agricultural activities.
	Natural England investigates complaints about ragwort on behalf of DEFRA and will take enforcement actions where there is a risk of:
	Weeds spreading to land used for grazing horses and other animals;
	Weeds spreading to land used for the production of conserved forage;
	Weeds spreading to land used for other agricultural activities; and
	The complainant has already made reasonable efforts to contact the landowner and occupier where the weeds are growing.
	DEFRA's code of practice on how to prevent the spread of Ragwort was published in July 2004. DEFRA worked with the British Horse Society, rural consultancy ADAS, English Nature, Wildlife and Countryside Link and other stakeholders to draw up the code. It provides comprehensive guidance on how to develop a strategic and cost-effective approach to weed control. The code gives advice on:
	Identification of Common Ragwort;
	Risk assessment and priorities for Ragwort control;
	Control methods their suitability and efficacy;
	Environmental considerations; and
	Health and safety issues.

Water

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many water resource management plans have been submitted by water companies in England.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In spring 2008, all 21 English water companies submitted their draft water resources management plans and consulted publicly on them during summer 2008. The Secretary of State has now considered the draft plans, the representations made in respect of the drafts and the water companies' statements of response to the representations. On 3 August 2009 he issued decision letters to the water companies on the next steps.
	10 of the water companies are now able to publish their final plans and three have already done so. The remaining 11 are either providing further information in support of their plan, or their plan will be considered further at a public inquiry or hearing.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma: Asylum

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Burmese authorities over the recent attack by Burmese forces on the Ler Per Her refugee camp.

Chris Bryant: We continue to be deeply concerned about the situation in Karen State, and closely followed reports of fighting in June 2009, including reports of an attack on the Ler Per Her refugee camp. We raised our concerns in a UN Security Council discussion on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 26 June 2009. The EU, with strong UK support, issued a statement on 11 June 2009 calling for an end to hostilities. It expressed particular concern about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.
	We have repeatedly urged both the military regime in Burma and the Karen National Union to intensify their efforts to find a peaceful settlement that will bring about a permanent end to the conflict. Direct representations on this issue were made most recently at meetings between our ambassador and Burmese Ministers on 18 and 19 June 2009. Our embassy in Rangoon continues to monitor the situation closely.

Colombia: Military Aid

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's plans are for the future provision of UK military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Government do not provide military aid to Colombia. I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on Colombia, laid before the House by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 40WS.
	I have, in addition, written to the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, outlining the work we do in Colombia. A copy of this letter is in the Library of the House.

Overseas Territories

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the net cost to the Exchequer of each UK overseas territory.

Chris Bryant: The following Government Departments meet the costs of, and provide the majority of the assistance to, the Overseas Territories: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID), the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Department for Transport (DFT) and the Department for Environment Food and Agriculture (DEFRA).
	The UK is responsible for 14 Overseas Territories. The following figures cover staff and administration costs in support of defence, sustainable development, safety and security, good governance and the environment.
	
		
			  Department  Cost (£ million) (2008-09) 
			  FCO  
			 Overseas Territories Directorate-Home costs 2.5 
			 Overseas Territories Directorate-Overseas costs (including capital costs) 3.1 
			 Overseas Territories Directorate-Programme allocation (Overseas Territories Programme Fund) 6.5 
			 Gibraltar-Home costs 0.3 
			 Gibraltar-Overseas costs 1.1 
			   
			  DFID  
			 Administration costs (home and overseas) 2.1 
			 Assistance to Pitcairn, Montserrat, St. Helena, Ascension,Tristan da Cunha, TCI and cross-territory projects 55.87 
			   
			  MOD  
			 British Forces in Falklands and Ascension 78.51 
			 Gibraltar 55.60 
			 British Indian Overseas Territories 2.3 
			   
			  DFT  
			 Programme and running costs for aviation and maritime safety and air accident investigations 3.1 
			   
			  DEFRA  
			 Costs to Kew and Joint Nature Conservation Committee 0.5 
			 British Antarctic Survey (BAS) costs 4.0 
			 Darwin Projects 0.04 
			   
			 Total 215.52

South Africa: Politics and Government

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage  (a) South Africa and  (b) the South African Development Community to seek to ensure President Mugabe complies with the terms of the power-sharing agreement with Morgan Tsvangirai.

Ivan Lewis: We are in regular touch with both South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as a part of our contact with international partners on Zimbabwe. The SADC, as sponsor and guarantor of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), has a key role to play in supporting reform in Zimbabwe. South Africa, although no longer in the SADC chair, remains closely involved in the organisation's discussions. It is a member of the new SADC Troika on Zimbabwe. President Zuma visited Harare in August 2009 and called for the full and timely implementation of the GPA. He reiterated this jointly with the EU at the EU-Africa summit on 11 September 2009.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Zimbabwe with President Zuma when they met at the G8 in June 2009, as did my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his telephone call with the South African Foreign Minister in July 2009.
	My noble Friend, the then Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, regularly encouraged SADC Ministers to support implementation of the GPA, most recently in the margins of the World Economic Forum meeting in Cape Town in June 2009. We will continue to make working with the region to promote reform in Zimbabwe a priority.

USA

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent requests his Department has made to the US administration for talks between the President of the United States of America and Government representatives.

Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no recent requests for discussions between President Obama and representatives of the Government.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and US President Barack Obama have regular Video Teleconference discussions on key issues. They most recently spoke on 8 October 2009.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of those accident and emergency departments in England whose annual volume of attendances is below 55,000; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: It is for primary care trusts to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the accident and emergency (A&E) services they commission. The Department has set an operational standard that 98 per cent of patients should not spend more than four hours. in A and E departments. National annual performance against the standard was 98.1 per cent. in 2008-09. Performance of individual trusts is published on the Department's website, but performance of individual A and E departments is not collected centrally. As seen in the 2008 Healthcare Commission survey of A and E, nationally patient ratings of care are continue to be positive-patient satisfaction with the overall quality of care is high: 88 per cent., rate it as "excellent", "very good" or "good".

Accident and Emergency Departments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospital trusts in England have  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) four or more accident and emergency departments.

Mike O'Brien: A list of national health service hospital trusts sorted according to whether they have one, two, three, four or more type 1 or type 2 accident and emergency departments has been placed in the Library.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services must be provided in a designated  (a) accident and emergency department and  (b) Urgent Care Centre.

Mike O'Brien: Configuration of services is a matter for local decision-making by primary care trusts. For the purposes of performance data collection, the Department uses the following definitions:
	Type 1 Accident and Emergency (A&E) department: A consultant led 24 hour service with full resuscitation facilities and designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients;
	Type 2 A&E department: A consultant led single specialty accident and emergency service (eg ophthalmology, dental) with designated accommodation for the reception of patients; and
	Type 3 A&E department: Other type of A&E/minor injury units (MIUs)/Walk-in Centres with designated accommodation for the reception of accident and emergency patients. A type 3 department may be doctor led or nurse led. It may be co-located with a major A&E or sited in the community. A defining characteristic of a service qualifying as a type 3 department is that it treats at least minor injuries and illnesses (sprains for example) and can be routinely accessed without appointment. A service mainly or entirely appointment based (for example a general practitioner practice or outpatient clinic) or one mainly or entirely accessed via telephone or other referral (for example most out of hours and primary care services)is not a type 3 A&E service even though it may treat a number of patients with minor illness or injury.
	The Department has not set a definition for 'urgent care centre'.

Ambulance Services: Lancashire

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) number and  (b) percentage of ambulances attending 999 calls in East Lancashire in each year since 2004 had a trained paramedic on board.

Mike O'Brien: Information about paramedics on board ambulances responding to 999 calls is not collected centrally.

Charities

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on all Department grant funding to charitable organisations is not available in the format requested from central records and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Tables showing grant awards from the funding years 2004-05 up to the current funding year 2009-10 with the identifiable data available including Social Enterprise Pathfinders, Social Enterprise Investment Fund, Children's Hospice and Hospice at Home, Dignity in Care (one year capital awards), Tobacco policy programme, Section 64 General Scheme of Grants, Innovation, Excellence and Service Development Fund, Strategic Partner Programme and the Opportunities for Volunteering grant scheme, have been placed in the Library.

Departmental Consultants

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many management consultants were employed on short- and long-term contracts in his Department in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The Department does not collect the information requested. It is preferred practice to award consultancy contracts based on outcomes for a fixed fee. As a result it is at the discretion of the management consultancies to manage the number of staff allocated to projects at any one time to most effectively deliver the required outcomes.
	The Department publishes its overall expenditure on management consultancy, which is available on the Department's website:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/FreedomOfInformation/Freedomofinformationpublicationschemefeedback/FOIreleases/DH_103938

Endometriosis

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to raise awareness amongst employers of the needs of people with endometriosis.

Gillian Merron: There is no specific Government advice for employers in relation to endometriosis in the workplace.
	The Government's response 'Improving Health and Work: changing lives' in November 2008 to Dame Carol Black's review of the health of Britain's working age population, 'Working for a Healthier Tomorrow', published in March 2008, is putting in place support for individuals, health care professionals and employers to enable individuals to return to work at the earliest opportunity and to remain in work. This includes widespread reforms to occupational health services through NHS Plus, the development of a 'Fit for Work Service', and the development of the 'Fit note', which will give employers more information about what steps they can take to help people to return to work.
	Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners: Rural Areas

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of rural parishes without a GP in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Services: Christchurch

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the sale of the vacant premises of the former health centre at Saxon Square, Christchurch to be completed.

Mike O'Brien: Following the decision of the local national health service trust not to utilise the property and the landlord's decision not to accept a surrender of the lease, agreement is being finalised with the landlord on the extent of repair works to be undertaken in compliance with a previously served Repairs Notice. Once agreement is reached, the works will be undertaken and the property formally marketed. The availability of the property has for some time been included on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (e-PIMS)-the central database of Government civil estate managed by the Office of Government Commerce.

Midwives: Training

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives were in receipt of a bursary in each of the last five years; what the average bursary paid to a student midwife was in each such year in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms; how much was paid out to student midwives in bursaries in each such year, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what the cost was of all bursaries paid to student midwives; and by how much in real terms the bursary changed in each of those years.

Ann Keen: The number of midwifery students who held a bursary and the average bursary paid to those students can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Academic year  Number of bursary holders( 1)  Average basic bursary in cash terms( 1)  (£)  Average basic bursary in 2009 prices( 1,2)  (£)  Average bursary (inc. allowances) in cash terms( 1)  (£)  Average bursary (inc. allowances) in 2009 prices( 1,2)  (£) 
			 2004-05 3,738 5,326 5,882 5,521 6,097 
			 2005-06 3,901 5,437 5,886 5,657 6,124 
			 2006-07 3,812 5,494 5,788 5,716 6,022 
			 2007-08 3,996 5,588 5,718 5,813 5,948 
			 2008-09 4,265 5,524 5,524 5,715 5,715 
			 (1) Includes EU students who are not eligible for a bursary and those who receive a nil award after income assessment. (2) Based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) at April in the middle of the academic year i.e. CPI for 2004-05 taken at April 2005.  Sources: Office for National Statistics NHS Business Services Authority 
		
	
	The average bursary awarded to students reflects the change in the proportion of diploma to degree students because bursary awards to degree students are means-tested. Degree students are also eligible for a student loan. Since 2004, the number of midwifery degree programmes commissioned by the national health service has increased and the number of diploma programmes reduced significantly.
	The total cost of the bursaries can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Academic year  Total spend (exc. allowances) in cash terms (£)  Total spend (exc. allowances) at 2009 prices( 1)  (£)  Total spend (inc. allowances) in cash terms (£)  Total spend (inc. allowances) at 2009 prices( 1)  (£) 
			 2004-05 19,908,213 21,984,897 20,637,109 22,789,826 
			 2005-06 21,209,791 22,961,632 22,067,168 23,889,825 
			 2006-07 20,944,277 22,066,650 21,787,618 22,955,184 
			 2007-08 22,327,766 22,846,534 23,228,490 23,768,185 
			 2008-09 23,560,311 23,560,311 24,373,689 24,373,689 
			 (1) Based on CPI at April in the middle of the academic year i.e. CPI for 2004-05 taken at April 2005.  Sources: Office for National Statistics NHS Business Services Authority 
		
	
	The rates for the basic NHS bursary, at 2009 prices, are set out in the following table. In addition to the NHS bursary, degree students are eligible for a non-means tested student loan.
	
		
			   Diploma  Degree 
			   London( 1)( ) (£)  Elsewhere( 1)( ) (£)  London( 1)( ) (£)  Elsewhere( 1)( ) (£)  Parental home( 1)( ) (£) 
			 2008 (new)(2) 7,629.00 6,531.00 3,306.00 2,739.00 2,287.00 
			 2008 (existing)(2) 7,374.00 6,275.00 3,050.00 2,483.00 2,031.00 
			 2007 (new)(2) 7,615.93 6,520.05 3,299.93 2,734.08 2,282.84 
			 2007 (existing)(2) 7,361.15 6,264.24 3,045.14 2,478.27 2,055.68 
			 2006 7,406.73 6,303.62 3,063.84 2,493.84 2,068.19 
			 2005 7,425.53 6,319.11 3,071.32 2,499.71 2,045.02 
			 2004 7,390.06 6,289.06 3,056.74 2,488.02 2,035.25 
			 (1) Based on CPI at the April in the middle of the academic year i.e. CPI for 2004-05 taken at April 2005. (2) In 2007 certain allowances were removed from the scheme to make it compliant with age discrimination legislation. Existing students remained on the previous rules and new rates introduced for new entrants.  Source: Office for National Statistics

NHS Foundation Trusts: Governing Bodies

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people serve on the governing council of a foundation hospital; and by what method they are selected.

Mike O'Brien: The National Health Service Act 2006 does not stipulate the number of governors at an NHS foundation trust. Each NHS foundation trust decides how many governors should be included in its constitution. The members of the NHS foundation trust must elect the majority of the governors. The other governors are appointed by organisations such as the primary care trust, the local authority and the university, where the NHS foundation trust has a medical or dental school. Schedule 7 of The National Health Service Act 2006 sets out the statutory requirements for an NHS foundation trust's constitution.

NHS Foundation Trusts: Governing Bodies

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process is followed to  (a) select and  (b) remove (i) the chairman, (ii) the chief executive and (iii) directors of a foundation hospital.

Mike O'Brien: The process for selecting and removing the chairman, chief executive and directors of a foundation trust hospital is contained in Schedule 7 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The board of governors at a general meeting appoint or remove the chairman and the other non executive directors. The non-executive directors appoint or remove the chief executive. It is for a committee consisting of the chairman, the chief executive and the other non-executive directors to appoint or remove the executive directors.

NHS: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts are borrowing money from his Department; what interest rates are being charged on each loan; what the term of each loan is; and how much interest has been paid on each to date.

Mike O'Brien: The Department makes loans to national health service trusts and national health service foundation trusts. The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS trust name  National loan fund rate (fixed for term) (percentage)  Term of  loan  (year s/month s)  Interest paid to date (£000) 
			 Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS trust 5.40 6 years 1,641 
			 Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS trust 5.45 5 years 541 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS trust 3.97 3 years 89 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 4 years 1,773 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS trust 4.02 25 years 0 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.70 25 years 180 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.90 25 years 803 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation trust 4.06 25 years 0 
			 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 3.04 10 years 152 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS trust 4.01 5 years 265 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS trust 5.40 6 years 2,971 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS trust 4.88 5 years 324 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation trust 4.48 15 years 358 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.40 25 years 2,578 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 3.94 25 years 153 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 2.98 10 years 0 
			 Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 2.67 4 years 115 
			 Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 2.92 5 years 154 
			 Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 2.86 10 years 0 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.85 10 years 1,144 
			 Chesterfield royal Hospital NHS Foundation trust 2.84 10 years 0 
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation trust 4.25 25 years 736 
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation trust 4.30 10 years 250 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust 1.90 5 years 0 
			 Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.85 12 years 1,447 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 5.05 15 years 402 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 2.45 10 years 0 
			 Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation trust 5.50 15 years 255 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust 5.45 5 years 844 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust 4.02 25 years 0 
			 East Cheshire NHS trust 5.50 3 years 635 
			 East Cheshire NHS trust 2.39 8 years 30 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS trust 2.39 6 years 2months 11 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS trust 2.28 6 years 0 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS trust 3.48 10 years 3months 38 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 4 years 405 
			 George Eliot Hospital NHS trust 5.45 3 years 689 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.95 25 years 1,972 
			 Great Western Ambulance Service NHS trust 2.82 5 years 3months 49 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 5.45 4 years 304 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.69 25 years 17 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.08 5 years 141 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS trust 2.69 10 years 11 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS trust 5.50 3 years 298 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation trust 5.60 23 years 364 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.90 10 years 81 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.90 25 years 204 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust 3.65 20 years 225 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 5 years 906 
			 Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS trust 4.07 24 years 8months 25 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS trust 5.35 7 years 2,663 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation trust 5.34 1 years 196 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation trust 5.21 20 years 129 
			 London Ambulance service NHS trust 2.65 8 years 0 
			 London Ambulance service NHS trust 2.73 8 years 2months 5 
			 Mayday Healthcare NHS trust 5.50 3 years 999 
			 Mid Essex Hospital services NHS trust 5.45 5 years 1,958 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust 5.29 3 years 1,526 
			 Moorfields eye Hospital NHS Foundation trust 5.05 10 years 97 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.65 25 years 270 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.60 10 years 768 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.50 10 years 273 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.45 15 years 89 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.40 25 years 823 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS trust 1.90 5 years 0 
			 Norfolk and Waveney NHS Foundation trust 3.87 20 years 113 
			 North Bristol NHS trust 5.05 20 years 5,781 
			 North Bristol NHS trust 4.02 25 years 0 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospital NHS trust 5.20 15 years 1,447 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospital NHS trust 5.10 14 years 6months 38 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospital NHS trust 4.34 14 years 25 
			 North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation trust 5.33 10 years 0 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS trust 5.45 5 years 1,622 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 5 years 2,577 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS trust 2.91 10 years 0 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS trust 5.40 6 years 2,231 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS trust 2.69 10 years 107 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS trust 4.19 10 years 366 
			 Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation trust 5.45 4 years 252 
			 Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation trust 3.92 25 years 0 
			 Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation trust 5.55 5 years 358 
			 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS trust 4.07 24 years 8months 48 
			 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS trust 4.05 24 years 6months 0 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS trust 2.69 10 years 94 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust 2.48 7 years 6months 0 
			 Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS trust 5.45 5 years 1,476 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS trust 4.86 8 years 279 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS trust 5.50 3 years 572 
			 Rob Jones and A Hunt Orthopaedic NHS trust 4.85 10 years 41 
			 Rob Jones and A Hunt Orthopaedic NHS trust 5.50 3 years 307 
			 Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation trust 4.12 18 years 247 
			 Royal Bolton Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 5.50 3 years 409 
			 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust 5.32 7 years 2,607 
			 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS trust 1.16 2 years 15 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation trust 4.55 20 years 2,132 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation trust 5.05 25 years 980 
			 Royal united Hospital Bath NHS trust 5.05 20 years 4,189 
			 Salisbury NHS Foundation trust 1.88 5 years 0 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorks NHS trust 5.45 5 years 827 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorks NHS trust 5.20 4 years 6months 66 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorks NHS trust 3.98 4 years 39 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation trust 4.80 25 years 995 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS trust 5.50 3 years 1,116 
			 South Central Ambulance service NHS trust 4.88 5 years 160 
			 South Central Ambulance Service NHS trust 3.48 10 years 3months 89 
			 South Central Ambulance Service NHS trust 1.90 5 years 0 
			 South Warwickshire Gen Hosps NHS trust 5.35 8 years 2,041 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS trust 4.85 10 years 6months 247 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 4 years 2,532 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS trust 4.19 10 years 448 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS trust 4.85 10 years 378 
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS trust 1.90 5 years 0 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS trust 5.45 5 years 3,675 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS trust 5.20 4 years 6months 21 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS trust 3.98 4 years 238 
			 Stockport NHS Foundation trust 4.80 25 years 3,396 
			 Stockport NHS Foundation trust 3.43 25 years 57 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS trust 4.95 25 years 4,999 
			 The Rotherham NHS Foundation trust 2.57 10 years 0 
			 The Rotherham NHS Foundation trust 3.23 20 years 160 
			 Trafford Healthcare NHS trust 5.50 3 years 154 
			 Trafford Healthcare NHS trust 4.19 10 years 179 
			 University Hospital of South Manchester Foundation trust 3.51 20 years 89 
			 University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS trust 5.31 5 years 737 
			 University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS trust 5.50 3 years 513 
			 Warrington and Halton Hospital NHS Foundation trust 5.50 3 years 758 
			 Warrington and Halton Hospital NHS Foundation trust 4.88 5 years 209 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 5 years 1,211 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust 5.40 10 years 798 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust 5.40 9 years 6months 710 
			 West Middlesex University NHS trust 5.31 5 years 890 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS trust 5.50 3 years 177 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS trust 4.69 5 years 222 
			 Western Sussex NHS trust 5.35 8 years 1,976 
			 Western Sussex NHS trust 4.07 7 years 61 
			 Western Sussex NHS trust 5.20 14 years 1,787 
			 Western Sussex NHS trust 5.15 7 years 6months 99 
			 Weston Area NHS trust 1.40 3 years 6 
			 Weston Area NHS trust 5.32 7 years 808 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS trust 5.30 9 years 3,074 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS trust 5.45 4 years 507 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust 5.45 5 years 2,703

Obesity: Magnetic Resonance Imagers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS patients who were too obese to fit into a magnetic resonance imaging scanner in the last 12 months; and what alternative provision is available for such patients.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not collect information on the size of patients undergoing diagnostic imaging examinations using an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
	Immediately prior to an MRI scan, the patient's weight is determined in order to assess the appropriate scanning parameters. This will also establish if the patient may be accommodated by the particular MRI scanner. MRI scanners have table weight limits and aperture diameters which may differ between different manufacturers' models. In some instances, the imaging service may have an MRI scanner to accommodate an obese patient, but where they do not, the radiologist will select the most appropriate alternative imaging procedure, such as ultrasound.

Quality and Outcomes Framework

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  in which geographical areas the 2011-12 Quality and Outcomes Framework pilot indicator studies will take place;
	(2)  what criteria were used to select  (a) the disease areas and  (b) the geographical areas for inclusion in the pilot indicator studies for the 2011-12 Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Mike O'Brien: Details of the geographical areas used for piloting potential indicators for inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) are a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE intends to publish its recommendations on indicators for piloting in due course.
	The criteria used for prioritisation of potential topics for inclusion in the QOF are set out in NICE's interim process guide for the development of indicators. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

Quality and Outcomes Framework

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the list of 13 new indicators for inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework to be published.

Mike O'Brien: On 10 August, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its recommendations on indicators for potential inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework for financial year 2010-11. The recommendations included the introduction of four new indicators and the retirement of eight existing indicators.
	NICE has also published details of indicators in development and in need of further review on its website. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

Rohypnol

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases were recorded of  (a) women and  (b) men being admitted to hospital following non-consenting consumption of Rohypnol in England in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: holding answer 13 October 2009
	Information about how many cases were recorded of women and men being admitted to hospital following non-consenting consumption of Rohypnol in England is not collected centrally.

Rohypnol

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on the testing of admitted patients suspected of being given Rohypnol or associated drugs.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 13 October 2009
	While there is no specific guidance on the testing of admitted patients suspected of being given Rohypnol or associated drugs, guidance and training about testing patients who have been sexually assaulted is available to health care professionals on the Care and Evidence website at:
	www.careandevidence.org/2b.asp
	The taskforce on the health aspects of Violence Against Women and Girls is currently examining how the national health service can improve the way it meets the needs of victims of sexual assault.

Tuberculosis

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) location,  (b) date of diagnosis,  (c) date of completion of treatment,  (d) age,  (e) occupation and  (f) suspected cause of infection was of each person who contracted Mycobacterium bovis in each of the last 10 years; and how many persons were diagnosed with tuberculosis complex in each such year.

Ann Keen: The available information is shown in the following tables. The exact location is not available because of the risk of deductive disclosure. These data are available by strategic health authority (SHA) region. Data are therefore presented by SHA region.
	
		
			  Table 1: Isolates of Mycobacterium bovis (M.  bovis) from humans by region, England, 1998  to  2007 
			   Year 
			  Region  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  Total 
			 East Midlands 3 5 0 3 0 1 2 1 3 1 19 
			 East of England 3 3 1 2 3 1 1 3 3 1 21 
			 London 6 3 4 6 2 5 5 4 4 5 44 
			 North East(1) - - 0 0 3 0 0 2 2 1 8 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber(1) - - 4 3 2 1 0 2 1 1 14 
			 Northern and Yorkshire(1) 2 1 - - - - - - - - 3 
			 North West 1 3 1 1 0 1 2 1 3 2 15 
			 South East 3 4 2 0 4 2 0 3 3 5 26 
			 South West 5 8 5 3 3 2 0 2 6 4 38 
			 West Midlands 1 1 2 3 3 2 2 6 2 4 26 
			 England 24 28 19 24 17 15 14 24 26 23 214 
			 (1) Change of region boundaries 1 April 2002 (boundaries recalculated for 2000 and 2001).  Source: M. bovis database 27 October 2008, Health Protection Agency (HPA) 
		
	
	The data on date of diagnosis and date of completion of treatment are not available because they are not part of HPA routine data outputs.
	
		
			  Table 2: Isolates of Mycobacterium bovis in humans by  age group, United Kingdom, 1998 to 2 007 
			   Age group (years)  
			   0 to 14  15 to 44  45 to 64  65+  Total( 1) 
			 1998 0 7 10 21 38 
			 1999 0 8 16 17 41 
			 2000 0 7 10 12 29 
			 2001 0 5 8 20 33 
			 2002 0 3 2 13 18 
			 2003 1 2 6 12 21 
			 2004 0 8 3 9 20 
			 2005 0 12 10 17 39 
			 2006 0 7 4 22 33 
			 2007 0 9 3 15 27 
			 Total 1 68 72 158 299 
			 (1) Where age was known.  Source: M. bovis database 27 October 2008, HPA 
		
	
	These data are also available on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1225700808961
	The data on occupation and suspected cause of infection of each person who contracted M. bovis are not available because they are not part of the HPA routine data outputs.
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of culture confirmed cases with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) complex, UK, 1998  to  2007 
			   Culture confirmed cases( 1)  of MTB complex  All TB cases 
			 1998 3,059 5,658 
			 1999 2,980 5,704 
			 2000 3,016 6,323 
			 2001 3,373 6,652 
			 2002 3,833 6,861 
			 2003 3,922 6,970 
			 2004 4,225 7,321 
			 2005 4,594 8,113 
			 2006 4,702 8,113 
			 2007 4,511 8,009 
			 (1) Notifications in ETS with matches to MycobNet laboratory data (culture confirmed results)  Source: Enhanced Tuberculosis Surveillance (ETS) and MycobNet, HPA

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crime

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Table 6.02 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 11/09, Crime in England and Wales 2008-09, what proportion of offences in each offence group has resulted in  (a) a charge or summons,  (b) a caution,  (c) a Penalty Notice for Disorder and  (d) an offence taken into consideration, in each year since 2002-03.

Alan Johnson: The information requested for the 10 offence groups and the overall total has been provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of offences recorded by specific method of detection and offence group 
			   Percentage of offences recorded resulting in: 
			  Offence group and financial year  Charge or summons  Caution  Penalty notice for disorder  Offence taken into consideration 
			  Violence against the person 
			 2002-03 28 7 0 0 
			 2003-04 26 7 0 0 
			 2004-05 25 8 3 0 
			 2005-06 25 12 6 0 
			 2006-07 24 15 7 0 
			 2007-08 26 16 7 0 
			 2008-09 27 15 5 0 
			  
			  Sexual offences 
			 2002-03 28 4 0 0 
			 2003-04 26 4 0 0 
			 2004-05 24 4 0 0 
			 2005-06 25 5 0 1 
			 2006-07 24 5 0 0 
			 2007-08 25 6 0 0 
			 2008-09 26 5 0 0 
			  
			  Robbery 
			 2002-03 15 0 0 1 
			 2003-04 16 0 0 1 
			 2004-05 16 1 0 1 
			 2005-06 16 1 0 1 
			 2006-07 17 1 0 1 
			 2007-08 18 1 0 1 
			 2008-09 19 1 0 1 
			  
			  Burglary 
			 2002-03 7 0 0 4 
			 2003-04 7 1 0 4 
			 2004-05 7 1 0 5 
			 2005-06 7 1 0 5 
			 2006-07 7 1 0 6 
			 2007-08 7 1 0 6 
			 2008-09 7 1 0 6 
			  
			  Offences against vehicles 
			 2002-03 5 1 0 3 
			 2003-04 4 1 0 3 
			 2004-05 4 1 0 4 
			 2005-06 4 1 0 5 
			 2006-07 4 1 0 5 
			 2007-08 5 1 0 5 
			 2008-09 5 1 0 5 
			  
			  Other theft offences 
			 2002-03 14 4 0 1 
			 2003-04 13 4 0 1 
			 2004-05 12 5 0 1 
			 2005-06 12 5 2 2 
			 2006-07 11 6 3 2 
			 2007-08 12 6 4 2 
			 2008-09 14 6 4 2 
			  
			  Fraud and forgery 
			 2002-03 14 2 0 7 
			 2003-04 14 3 0 6 
			 2004-05 14 3 0 7 
			 2005-06 16 4 0 7 
			 2006-07 15 5 0 7 
			 2007-08 17 7 0 7 
			 2008-09 17 6 0 5 
			  
			  Criminal damage 
			 2002-03 7 3 0 0 
			 2003-04 6 3 0 0 
			 2004-05 6 3 0 0 
			 2005-06 6 4 1 1 
			 2006-07 6 5 2 1 
			 2007-08 6 5 2 1 
			 2008-09 7 5 1 1 
			  
			  Drug offences 
			 2002-03 51 34 0 0 
			 2003-04 49 32 0 0 
			 2004-05 39 34 0 0 
			 2005-06 33 23 0 0 
			 2006-07 30 21 0 0 
			 2007-08 28 21 0 0 
			 2008-09 30 20 0 0 
			  
			  Other offences 
			 2002-03 64 6 0 0 
			 2003-04 60 7 0 0 
			 2004-05 54 9 1 0 
			 2005-06 57 9 1 0 
			 2006-07 54 12 1 0 
			 2007-08 57 13 0 0 
			 2008-09 59 12 0 0 
			  
			  Total 
			 2002-03 13 4 0 2 
			 2003-04 13 4 0 2 
			 2004-05 13 5 1 2 
			 2005-06 13 6 2 2 
			 2006-07 13 7 3 2 
			 2007-08 14 7 3 2 
			 2008-09 15 7 2 2

Crime: Statistics

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work has been done to map levels of recorded crime in a given geographical area against different indicators of social deprivation in the last five years.

Alan Johnson: In the last five years, the Home Office has analysed levels of recorded crime by type of area and this information has been presented as graphs and text but not mapped.
	In 2008, the Home Office published an analysis of recorded crime in local authority districts by type of area. Crime varies by area according to factors such as levels of social deprivation. These variations were explored using recorded crime by grouping local authority districts into clusters in relation to their population characteristics, such as the nature of employment and industry and socioeconomic characteristics, from the 2001 census (see Section 6.4, Crime in England and Wales 2007/08, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0708.html).
	Tables showing recorded crime figures at different geographic levels are also available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0809.html
	This website allows users to download the recorded crime tables. This provides users with the recorded crime figures which they may then use for mapping levels of recorded crime against different indicators of social deprivation.

Crime: Statistics

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the supplementary table, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas: Recorded crime for seven key offences and BCS comparator 2007-08 to 2008-09 in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Crime in England and Wales 2008-09, for what reasons the number of total recorded offences are not provided for each Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

Alan Johnson: Following the introduction of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP) under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, data were only collected for six key offences for 1999-2000. From 2000-01 onwards data were collected for all offences at CDRP level but the supplementary tables continued to concentrate on the key offences.
	Data for the total number of offences recorded at CDRP level are readily available and have been provided when requested for parliamentary questions and for inquiries from the general public.
	The Home Office also makes available crime rates per head of population (including rates for total crime) at CDRP level in the form of crime maps for the years 2002/03 to 2008/09. This can be accessed at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ia/atlas.html
	Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002.

Crimes of Violence

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Table 7.12 in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Crime in England and Wales 2008-09, how many offences of  (a) wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and  (b) wounding or inflicting GBH without intent were carried out with a knife in 2008-09.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is given in the following table.
	It should be noted that GBH offences for 2008-09 will not be comparable with those published for 2007-08. This is due to a change in the clarification rules for recording GBH with intent, and a change in the definition of GBH without intent. Under advice from the National Statistician the offences of GBH with and without intent and ABH and other injury were combined when published.
	Further information is given in Box 2.1 on page 14 of Crime in England and Wales, 2008-09: Volume 1.
	
		
			  Number of GBH and ABH offences involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by the police for 2008-09( 1) 
			  Police force  Inflicting GBH with intent  Inflicting GBH without intent  Actual bodily harm and other injury  Total ABH and GBH Offences 
			 Cleveland 70 14 164 248 
			 Durham 65 3 42 110 
			 Northumbria 145 48 422 615 
			 North East Region 280 65 628 973 
			  
			 Cheshire 70 17 354 441 
			 Cumbria 26 3 31 60 
			 Greater Manchester 571 13 544 1,128 
			 Lancashire 286 14 246 546 
			 Merseyside 287 12 132 431 
			 North West Region 1,240 59 1,307 2,606 
			  
			 Humberside 108 8 133 249 
			 North Yorkshire 28 10 39 77 
			 South Yorkshire 202 15 157 374 
			 West Yorkshire 322 71 693 1,086 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 660 104 1,022 1,786 
			  
			 Derbyshire 88 10 189 287 
			 Leicestershire 123 26 143 292 
			 Lincolnshire 47 4 45 96 
			 Northamptonshire 99 50 172 321 
			 Nottinghamshire 162 8 225 395 
			 East Midlands Region 519 98 774 1,391 
			  
			 Staffordshire 94 14 211 319 
			 Warwickshire 62 23 88 173 
			 West Mercia 78 7 52 137 
			 West Midlands 556 304 859 1,719 
			 West Midlands Region 790 348 1,210 2,348 
			  
			 Bedfordshire 64 4 127 195 
			 Cambridgeshire 116 11 99 226 
			 Essex 158 8 181 347 
			 Hertfordshire 60 13 3 76 
			 Norfolk 28 0 30 58 
			 Suffolk 56 22 150 228 
			 East of England Region 482 58 590 1,130 
			  
			 London, City of 6 1 9 16 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,168 592 1,968 4,728 
			 London Region 2,174 593 1,977 4,744 
			  
			 Hampshire 119 52 295 466 
			 Kent 158 20 161 339 
			 Surrey 26 1 60 87 
			 Sussex 130 36 324 490 
			 Thames Valley 112 46 413 571 
			 South East Region 545 155 1,253 1,953 
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 195 13 288 496 
			 Devon and Cornwall 144 32 358 534 
			 Dorset 9 2 15 26 
			 Gloucestershire 27 7 64 98 
			 Wiltshire 32 7 95 134 
			 South West Region 407 61 820 1,288 
			  
			 England 7,097 1,541 9,581 18,219 
			  
			 Dyfed-Powys 40 4 21 65 
			 Gwent 73 17 80 170 
			 North Wales 65 19 81 165 
			 South Wales 101 10 134 245 
			  
			 Wales 279 50 316 645 
			  
			 British Transport Police 16 6 54 76 
			  
			 England and Wales 7,392 1,597 9,951 18,940 
			 (1) Includes racially or religiously aggravated wounding or inflicting GBH.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response his Department has made to the report by Chris Taylor of the UK Border Agency on travel permits from Pakistan; what the principal conclusions of the report were; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 September 2009
	 A member of staff in the Islamabad visa section was asked in 2006 to conduct an internal review of a number of visa cases for the purpose of maintaining and improving processes and decision-making. This was part of routine procedure to monitor and continuously improve performance. As such, the observations made in the review were one of many contributions to the continuous business improvement process within UKBA International Group, previously UK Visas.
	As a result of this process, there have been significant improvements made to visa processing in Pakistan since 2006, for example:
	In 2007 we began recording biometrics of all Pakistani visa applicants, which are cross-checked against UK Police and immigration databases.
	We have increased verification checks on key documentation. For example, all education certificates are verified with the Pakistan Higher Education Commission.
	We have improved our risk profiling of Pakistani visa applications, meaning that extra checks are made on applications considered higher risk.
	We have introduced the Points Based System, which has consolidated about 80 immigration routes into a five tier system and introduced still tougher standards on UK employers and colleges seeking to bring migrants into the UK.
	Since the beginning of 2007, we have provided counter-terrorism and forgery training to all entrance clearance and intelligence staff being posted overseas.
	We have run specific counter-terrorism training sessions in high risk posts, including Islamabad.
	In 2008 we introduced paragraph 320 7a and 7b into the immigration rules which allows entrance clearance staff to ban those who use forged or fraudulent documents in visa applications from entering the UK for up to 10 years.
	As a result of these and other actions, refusal rates for visa applications for Pakistani nationals have risen 14 per cent. since 2006 (32 per cent. in 2006 to 46 per cent. in 2008-09).

Forced Marriage

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations in England and Wales in receipt of Government funding undertake work relating to forced marriage; and how much each has received from the Government in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: The following table contains information on organisations dealing with issues concerning forced marriage who received Government funding over the past three years.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Government Department  Organisation funded  Purpose of funding  Amount funded in 2007-08  Amount funded in 2008-09  Amount funded in 2009-10  Total funding 
			 Forced marriage Unit Changing lives Peer support to victims of FM and HBV 7,000 - - 7,000 
			 Forced marriage Unit Karma Nirvana Survivors Network and male victim support officer (2008-09) 15,000 28,000 - 43,000 
			 Forced marriage Unit Iranian, Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO) Campaign on FM targeting Iranian, Kurdish and Arabic communities - 28,000 - 28,000 
			 Forced marriage Unit Doli Project (Birmingham) Training for education welfare officers - 2,516 - 2,516 
			 Forced marriage Unit Refuge Study on service provision - 6,635 - 6,635 
			 Forced marriage Unit Ethnic Minority Foundation Website for young people - 25,000 - 25,000 
			 Forced marriage Unit ACPO Training DVD on FM - - 10,000 10,000 
			 Forced marriage Unit Domestic Programme Fund 8 organisations-yet to be announced - - 84,000 84,000 
			 GEO Ethnic Minority Foundation Forcedmarriage.net website - 6,000 - 6,000 
			 MoJ 11 organisations Forced Marriage IDVA pilot - - (1)- 220,000 
			 OCJR Victim and Witness Unit Thames Valley LCJB Victim support and service delivery 14,600 15,000 - 29,600 
			 OCJR Victim and Witness Unit Cleveland LCJB 'Way Forward' network - - 10,000 10,000 
			  Government Funding to Regional Government Offices and Welsh Assembly Government   
			 Welsh Assembly Government South Wales Police FM leaflets and training 4,000 9,000 - 13,000 
			 Welsh Assembly Government Henna Foundation Conference - - 12,000 12,000 
			 Government Office for the South West Safer Bristol training package - 2,740 4,600 7,340 
			 Government Office for the South West Bristol Somali Development Group FM support and counselling programme - - 10,000 10,000 
			 Government Office for the North East Cleveland Police Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Conference 2,000 - - 2,000 
			 Government Office for the North East Safe in Tees Valley and Central Office of Information Forced Marriage Conference and related promotional activity - 5,985 - 5,985 
			 Government Office for the North East Cleveland Police Conference to launch Honour Based Violence helpline - 6,757 - 6,757 
			 Government Office for the North East Karma Nirvana Establish and manage regional Honour Network to support forced marriage victims - 27,920 - 27,920 
			  North Tyneside CDRP( via PSV) Training from Karma Nirvana - - 3,500 3,500 
			 Government Office for the North East Northumberland CDRP(via PSV) County wide FM road show - - 2,000 2,000 
			   HBV training 1,500 - - 1,500 
			  Sunderland CDRP (via PSV) Consultation with Karma Nirvana - 4,000 - 4,000 
			  Durham CDRP (via PSV) FM training - 10,000 - 10,000 
			 Government Office for the East Safer Luton Partnership Contribution to set up of project to support victims of HBV and FM in Luton - 10,000 - 10,000 
			 Year Totals   42,600 189,053 356,100 - 
			 Total   587,753 
			 (1 )Min.£20,000 per organisation.

Sentencing: Homicide

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Sentencing Guidelines Council on the length of sentences for murder committed by members of gangs.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	I have had no discussions with the Sentencing Guidelines Council on the length of sentences for murder committed by gangs. I have consulted the Council on the review of the starting point for determining the minimum term for murder using a knife and I await its formal response. Guidance on setting the minimum term to be served for murder is set out in Schedule 21 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Council guideline on the overarching principle of seriousness states that offenders operating in groups or gangs should be treated as an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing. I note that the Crown Court recently handed down sentences with 39 and 35 year minimum terms to the top members of a gang in Manchester and a 35 year minimum term for a gang member from Sheffield who ordered a murder from his prison cell.

Sexual Offences

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cautions have been issued for sexual offences in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 12 October 2009
	Information provided by the Ministry of Justice on the number of offenders cautioned for sexual offences, England and Wales 1998 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following table.
	Data for 2008 will be published in November 2009.
	
		
			  Number of offenders issued with a caution for sexual offences, England and Wales 1998 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			   Number 
			 1998 1,726 
			 1999 1,469 
			 2000 1,301 
			 2001 1,240 
			 2002 1,203 
			 2003 1,359 
			 2004 1,553 
			 2005 1,761 
			 2006 1,922 
			 2007 1,966 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. 
			 (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: OCJR-Evidence and Analysis Unit IOS ref: 382-09

Young Offenders

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged  (a) under 10,  (b) 10 to 17,  (c) 18 to 20 and  (d) 21 years and over were (i) arrested, (ii) charged and (iii) convicted for (A) violent and (B) non-violent offences in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: Available information on numbers of persons arrested, broken down by age group is given in table A. The table covers the period from 2003-04 to 2007-08 (latest available). There is no link from these centrally reported data to any subsequent outcome. Data on arrests are published on a financial year basis.
	Additionally, information provided by the Ministry of Justice showing the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for violent and non-violent offences, broken down by age group, in England and Wales from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in table B.
	The Ministry of Justice does not centrally collect charging data; proceeded against data is provided in lieu. The court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice does not hold information on convictions and prosecutions data for persons aged under 10 who are under the age of liability. Data on court proceedings are published on a calendar year basis.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	The court statistics provided by the Ministry of Justice relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by age group and type of offence( 1)   2003-04 to 2007-08: England and Wales 
			   Number of arrests( 2) 
			  Notifiable offence group  Aged under 10  Aged 10-17  Aged 18-20  Aged 21 and over  Age unknown  All ages 
			  2003-04   
			 Violent offences 100 83,000 56,900 256,000 900 396,800 
			 Other offences 500 230,300 145,200 555,600 1,900 933,800 
			 Total 700 313,200 202,200 811,700 2,700 1,330,400 
			
			  2004-05( 3)   
			 Violent offences 200 96,700 66,800 294,000 900 458,400 
			 Other offences 500 236,100 137,000 519,500 1,900 894,900 
			 Total 800 332,800 203,700 813,400 2,800 1,353,400 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Violent offences 200 108,500 74,500 331,800 800 515,800 
			 Other offences 500 239,900 140,300 531,100 2,000 914,000 
			 Total 800 348,500 214,700 863,100 2,700 1,429,800 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Violent offences 93 115,173 81,617 362,585 1,037 560,505 
			 Other offences 353 238,197 144,293 536,643 2,165 921,651 
			 Total 446 353,370 225,910 899,228 3,202 1,482,156 
			
			  2007-08   
			 Violent offences 41 102,802 77,864 363,629 1,685 546,021 
			 Other offences 122 212,599 145,759 568,021 2,744 929,245 
			 Total 163 315,401 223,623 931,650 4,429 1,475,266 
			 (1) Violent offences includes the offence categories of: violence against the person; sexual offences; robbery offences. Other offences includes the offence categories of: burglary; theft and handling stolen goods; fraud and forgery; .criminal damage; drug offences; other offences. (2) Figures from 2003-04 to 2005-06 are rounded to the nearest 100 therefore figures for these years may not add up to the totals, subsequent years' figures are unrounded. Additionally, figures for violent and other offences may not be accurate due to the summing of rounded figures. (3) Figures updated since publication of 2004-05 bulletin.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to violent, and non violent offences, in England and Wales, by age group, 2003 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Age group  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  10-17   
			 Violent offences 18,618 18,217 18,123 18,457 18,555 9,668 10,457 11,061 11,713 12,337 
			 Non violent offences 122,172 118,445 113,608 107,732 107,979 82,873 85,733 85,096 81,976 85,104 
			
			  18-20   
			 Violent offences 15,798 14,604 14,433 14,653 14,230 8,129 8,520 8,821 9,449 9,849 
			 Non violent offences 205,968 191,682 174,739 165,256 158,361 154,359 148,231 137,806 133,612 130,763 
			
			  21 and over   
			 Violent offences 68,049 60,914 57,853 53,953 50,938 31,897 32,438 32,938 33,708 33,669 
			 Non violent offences 1,556,205 1,603,373 1,502,837 1,408,127 1,371,432 1,194,295 1,252,609 1,199,530 1,143,315 1,136,243 
			
			  All ages   
			 Violent offences 102,465 93,735 90,409 87,063 83,723 49,694 51,415 52,820 54,870 55,855 
			 Non violent offences 1,884,345 1,913,500 1,791,184 1,681,115 1,637,772 1,431,527 1,486,573 1,422,432 1,358,903 1,352,110 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data includes the following offence types: Violent offences: Violence against the person Sexual Offences Robbery Non Violent offences: Burglary Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other indictable offences Indictable motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) Summary motoring offences (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Court proceedings data held by CJEAU-Office for Criminal Justice Reform-Ministry of Justice

Young Offenders

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the stated aim of the Youth Crime Action Plan Initiative is; how much funding has been  (a) distributed to and  (b) spent by local authorities through the grant in each year since the grant's inception; and how much his Department expects to spend in the next two years;
	(2)  what categories of expenditure are covered by funding through the Youth Crime Action Plan Initiative grant; and what assessment has been made of the success of the funding against its objectives of  (a) preventing youth offending,  (b) reducing re- offending,  (c) building public confidence and offering better support to young victims and  (d) ensuring that those in the youth prison system are able to achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes.

Alan Campbell: The Youth Crime Action Plan, published in July 2008, is the cross-Government strategy for dealing with the full range of issues around youth crime and justice through a triple track approach of prevention, non-negotiable support, and tough enforcement.
	The action plan is backed by £100 million of new funding, including funding for 71 local areas to implement a package of intensive measures to address youth crime. In 2008-09, the 69 areas in England received a total of £4.5 million, plus an additional £1.7 million for positive activities on Friday and Saturday nights, and the areas report that this money has been spent in its entirety. The 69 areas will receive £24.2 million in 2009-10, plus an additional £1.4 million for summer alcohol activity, and a further indicative amount of £24.2 million in 2010-11. In addition, two areas in Wales will receive a total of £350,000 in 2009-10 and can expect the same in 2010-11 to implement the elements of the package that are non-devolved.
	The action plan funding covers expenditure to support the triple track approach. For example, to provide support for families in the greatest difficulty; police and social workers taking unsupervised young people off the streets at night; and to ensure that more young offenders carry out unpaid work to repay their communities in their leisure time.
	The action plan's achievements so far are set out in Youth Crime Action Plan One Year On, published in July 2009, and build on the Government's earlier successes which have seen recently a fall in the number of children entering the criminal justice system for the first time and a fall in the rate of reoffending.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Building Britain's Future

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many recent functions he has attended to promote the proposals contained in Building Britain's Future, Cm 7654.

Douglas Alexander: I attended one official function for Building Britain's Future which took place on 16 July 2009 in Swindon.

JUSTICE

Burges Salmon Solicitors

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Solicitors Regulation Authority expects to complete its investigation of Burges Salmon LLP; and whether he expects the adjudication process to be expedited in that case.

Bridget Prentice: Although the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) does not usually comment on ongoing investigations, it is aware that matters relating to this particular investigation are already in the public domain. The SRA has informed me that it is giving high priority to this case. The SRA considers the investigation to be complex but expects it to be completed within a few months, at which time a decision will be made about appropriate action.

Channel Islands: Tidal Power

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 359W, on British Overseas Territories: renewable energy, what progress has been made by the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey in establishing tidal energy commissions.

Michael Wills: Guernsey has put in place a 'shadow' Renewable Energy Commission. In June 2009 the States of Guernsey directed the drafting of legislation for arranging the licensing of the operation and deployment of macro renewable energy systems in Guernsey. The intention is to establish a commission by the end of 2010.
	Jersey has put in place a 'shadow' Tidal Power Commission that is looking at the feasibility of harvesting offshore renewable energy resources. Should this appear economically viable they will make recommendations to Jersey Ministers in respect of the composition of the Tidal Power Commission and the commercial, fiscal and legislative regimes necessary to regulate the harvesting of this resource.

Councillors: Data protection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on whether councillors are required to register individually under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Michael Wills: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent authority with responsibility for enforcing the Data Protection Act 1998 and administering the register of data controllers under that Act. The ICO produces guidance to help individuals and organisations understand their rights and obligations and has published a good practice note entitled "Advice for the elected and prospective members of local authorities" which includes advice on the issue of councillors' notification under section 18 of the Act. This advice is available on the ICO's website and I have placed a copy in the Library.

Crown Dependencies: Prisons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the prison  (a) capacity and  (b) population is in each of the British Crown Dependencies.

Michael Wills: The maximum capacity of prisons in the Crown Dependencies is as follows: HMP La Moye (Jersey) 258, Guernsey Prison 122, and 138 on the Isle of Man. On 13 October 2009 their prison populations were 187, 72 and 110 respectively. The capacity of each prison is restricted in terms of limits on male, female and special categories.

Departmental Manpower

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff there were in  (a) his Department's predecessor in 1997 and  (b) his Department on the latest date for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: In 1997 the Ministry of Justice's predecessor was the Lord Chancellor's Department, which had responsibility for appointing and advising on the appointment of judges, running the court system and a certain number of tribunals and assisting in the reform of the English law. To this end it controlled the Public Trust Office, the Courts Service, the Official Solicitor's Office, the Office of the Judge Advocate General, the Legal Aid Board and several more government agencies.
	Since 1997 there has been a number of machinery of government changes, which resulted in the establishment of the Ministry of Justice in May 2007. These changes included the establishment of the Department for Constitutional Affairs from the Lord Chancellors Department in June 2003; the creation of Her Majesty's Courts Service from the Magistrates Courts Service and the Courts Service in April 2005; the setting up of the Tribunals Service from other Government Departments in April 2006; and the transfer of HM Prison Service, as part of the National Offender Management Service, with the creation of the Ministry of Justice in May 2007.
	Along with the organisational changes, the management information systems and the data they hold have been subject to significant change. As a consequence, information on numbers of staff in all the Department's predecessors for 1997 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	However, it is possible to provide for 1 April 1997 published information on civil service staff numbers from the Cabinet Office website. The number of full-time equivalent staff recorded as working within the Lord Chancellor's Department was 10,652 and for HM Prison Service it was 37,704.
	The latest staff figures for the Ministry of Justice are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and they form part of their public sector employment statistics. The latest published data for the Ministry of Justice (30 June 2009) are set out in the table. The table provides full-time equivalent (FTE) figures for the Ministry of Justice (as published by the ONS).
	
		
			  Staff numbers (FTEs) as at 30 June 2009 
			   Number 
			 MOJ HQ 3,020 
			 NOMS(1) 50,660 
			 HMCS 18,940 
			 Tribunals Service 2,850 
			 Office of the Public Guardian 360 
			 Scotland Office 110 
			 Wales Office 60 
			 Total(2) 76,000 
			 (1) The figures for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) refer to HQ and directly employed staff in public sector prisons only. They do not include the National Probation Service where the responsibility for staffing lies with the 42 areas and trusts who employ these staff. (2) The total figures do not include the Land Registry (5,860) or National Archives (630) recorded by the ONS under the category of Justice. These agencies are not reported as part of the Ministry of Justice's departmental annual report.

Family Courts

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which family courts have plans to hold open days.

Bridget Prentice: Open days are held by many courts across HMCS covering a broad range of jurisdictions including family. The extent and regularity of these are determined locally, by local managers, according to local needs, and there is no central record kept of past events or future plans.

Fraud: Prosecutions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions which resulted in a conviction there have been for offences related to credit card fraud in each of the last three years.

Claire Ward: There is no specific offence of credit card fraud. Prior to January 2007 persons involved in this type of activity are likely to have been prosecuted under the deception offences in the 1968 and 1978 Theft Acts relating to obtaining property by deception. From January 2007 offenders are likely to have been proceeded against under the various fraud offences contained in the Fraud Act 2006. The common law offence of conspiracy to defraud might also be relevant, depending on the circumstances of the case. Data covering offences under the relevant sections of these acts for the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts in England and Wales, for the years 2005 to 2007 (latest available) are shown in the following table.
	Data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for selected offences relating to fraud, England and Wales, 2005 to 2007( 1,2,3,4) 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 Proceeded against 9,955 7,983 8,200 
			 Found guilty 7,625 6,266 6,107 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Defendants may be proceeded against in one year and found guilty in the following year. (4) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence description: Theft Act 1968 Sec 15. Obtaining property by deception. Theft Act 1978 Sec 1. Obtaining services by deception (except railway frauds). Common Law. Conspiracy to defraud. Fraud Act 2006 S.1(2aX3X4) & 2 Dishonestly makes a false representation to make a gain for himself or another or to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk. Fraud Act 2006 S.1(2bX3) Dishonestly fails to disclose information to make a gain for himself or another or to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk. Fraud Act 2006 S.6 Possession etc. of articles for use in frauds Fraud Act 2006 S.7 Make, adapt, supply or offer to supply any article knowing that it is designed or adapted for use in the course of or in connection with fraud, or intending it to be used to commit or facilitate fraud  Source:  Evidence and Analysis Unit - Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Human Trafficking

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what services will be available for trafficked women under the Poppy project in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Claire Ward: The Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking which the Government ratified in December last year commits the UK to provision of sheltered accommodation for all those trafficked women who need it.
	The Government have consequently invested £4million into specialist support services for victims of human trafficking over the next two years. This includes an investment of £3.7 million into the Poppy project to expand and improve the services that are available to victims that have been trafficked into the sex-industry and domestic servitude. The additional investment will see an expansion of supported accommodation, with refuge places for victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude in London, Sheffield and Cardiff. The investment will also fund a new national co-ordinator who will help set best practice standards and work with areas to raise awareness with local agencies and funding commissioners. There will also be an increase in advocacy workers to help provide one-to-one tailored support and the community outreach team will also be extended with two link workers based within the UK Human Trafficking Centre to work in partnership with the police, UK Border Agency and other partners to help with victim identification and onward referral into support.
	Additionally, £300,000 is being invested into the UK Human Trafficking Centre to develop flexible support services for victims of labour trafficking.
	Trafficked women in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne can therefore access the full range of support provided by the Poppy project; including tailored support from the community outreach team and if needed, be relocated to supported accommodation in the identified locations, safety permitting.

Legal Profession: Fees and charges

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many clients have been represented by no-win no-fee solicitors in employment tribunals in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) does not hold the information requested. A survey of Employment Tribunal Applications (SETA) conducted by the (then) Department of Trade and Industry in 2003 suggests that damages-based agreements funded 11 per cent. of cases. A further survey was conducted in 2008 the results of which are expected to be published later this year.

Means Warrants: Greater London

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent assessment is of the monetary value of means warrants written off in Greater London in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The total values of financial penalties administratively cancelled by the HMCS London area in the last five years are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Amount administratively cancelled (£) 
			 2008-09 21,154,762.19 
			 2007-08 14,299,628.59 
			 2006-07 13,157,208.52 
			 2005-06 573,379.42 
			 2004-05 1,038,403.34 
		
	
	The amount shown equates to all administratively cancelled financial penalties not just the monetary value of means warrants which have been written off. The Department is unable to provide data solely relating to means warrants without incurring disproportionate costs.

Party Conferences

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any of his Department's non-departmental public bodies sent representatives to attend one or more political party conferences in 2009.

Michael Wills: No non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Ministry of Justice sent representatives to any of the political party conferences in 2009.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will ask each of the three participating political parties if they will consent to place all background papers and minutes from the inter-party talks on the funding of political parties in the public domain; and if he will place in the Library a copy of those papers.

Jack Straw: As I said in the debate on the publication of the White Paper, Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom, on 16 June 2009,  Official Report, column 695 release of these papers is a matter for Sir Hayden Phillips, not the Government.

Prisons: Drugs

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there was any discrepancy between the number of drugs received into prison pharmacies in England and Wales and the number prescribed in these prisons in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and what arrangements are in place for regular auditing to verify such information.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not collected centrally. The responsibility for commissioning offender health services in publicly run prisons in England has been fully devolved to national health service primary care trusts since 2006 and as such pharmacy services are commissioned locally.
	Local clinical audit and governance is in place for offender medication management as in the wider NHS.

Prisons: Manpower

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which staff  (a) grades,  (b) rates of pay and  (c) vacancies there were in the prison service in each of the last three years; what his Department's policy on recruitment in the prison service has been in each such year; if he will consider proposals for a new prison officer grade, including rate of pay; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The grades at which staff were employed in HM Prison Service is shown in the following table together with the maximum and minimum rate of pay for each grade or payband in each year of the last three years.
	
		
			   2006 - 07  2007 - 08  2008 - 09 
			  Grade  Min  Max  Min  Max  Min  Max 
			 Sen Man A 60,442 78,832 60,442 80,858 62,515 82,071 
			 Sen Man B 55,528 76,793 55,528 78,483 58,165 79,661 
			 Sen Man C 53,357 69,157 53,357 70,679 55,060 71,740 
			 Sen Man D 44,589 63,535 44,589 64,933 41,725 60,433 
			 Manager E 29,184 43,927 29,184 44,894 31,210 45,568 
			 Manager F 26,280 37,262 26,280 38,082 27,690 38,654 
			 Manager G 23,434 30,676 23,434 31,351 24,235 31,822 
			
			 Prison Officer 17,744 27,530 18,135 28,136 18,135 28,643 
			 Senior Officer 29,371 29,371 30,165 30,165 30,708 30,708 
			 Principal Officer 30,926 31,913 31,762 32,616 31,762 33,204 
			 Asst stores person 12,796 13,847 12,796 14,152 12,796 14,407 
			 Auxiliary 12,008 13,318 12,008 13,611 12,008 13,856 
			 Night patrol 12,726 14,084 12,726 13,611 12,008 13,856 
			 OSG 14,767 17,371 15,092 17,754 15,092 18,074 
			 Stores person 13,698 14,942 13,698 15,271 13,698 15,546 
			
			 Admin Asst 12,376 14,089 12,626 14,372 12,626 14,372 
			 Admin Offr 14,444 19,877 14,762 20,315 14,762 20,315 
			 Catering Manager 21,525 27,348 21,525 27,348 21,525 27,348 
			 Chaplain Band 1 23,082 35,799 23,082 35,799 23,082 35,799 
			 Chaplain Band 2 20,277 31,447 20,277 31,447 20,277 31,477 
			 Drugs worker 18,536 22,291 18,536 22,291 18,536 22,291 
			 Exec Officer 21,419 24,143 21,998 24,795 21,998 24,795 
			 Farm Manager 21,525 27,348 21,525 27,348 21,525 27,348 
			 Instructional Off 17,989 23,666 17,989 23,666 17,989 23,666 
			 Medical Officer 51,267 61,045 51,267 61,045 51,267 61,045 
			 Personal Sec 14,810 19,877 15,136 20,315 15,136 20,315 
			 Prof & Tech Offr 20,996 26,675 20,996 26,675 20,996 26,675 
			 Psych asst 14,444 19,290 14,444 19,290 14,444 19,290 
			 Scientific Officer 18,444 25,632 18,444 25,632 18,444 25,632 
			 Senior Med Offr 54,159 70,897 54,159 70,897 54,159 70,897 
			 Senior Pers Sec 21,419 23,430 21,998 24,063 21,998 24,063 
			 SGB1 14,089 15,412 14,372 15,723 14,372 15,723 
			 SGB2 12,563 14,089 12,816 14,372 12,816 14,372 
			 SGB2 cleaner 12,012 13,139 12,253 13,404 12,253 13,404 
			 Stores Officer C 19,680 25,000 19,680 25,000 19,680 25,000 
			 Stores Officer D 18,170 23,082 18,170 23,082 18,170 23,082 
			 Tech Grade 1 18,170 23,082 18,170 23,082 18,170 23,082 
			 Trainee Psych 17,285 19,581 17,285 19,581 17,285 19,581 
			 Typing Manager 21,419 23,430 21,998 24,063 21,998 24,063 
			 Typist 12,563 15,412 12,816 15,723 12,816 15,723 
			
			 Ind 1 pattern A 19,166 20,967 19,651 21,496 19,651 21,496 
			 Ind 1 pattern B 22,041 24,113 22,599 24,721 22,599 24,721 
			 Ind 1 pattern C 24,916 27,258 25,547 27,945 25,547 27,945 
			 Ind 2 pattern A 17,696 19,553 18,143 20,047 18,143 20,047 
			 Ind 2 pattern B 20,351 22,486 20,865 23,055 20,865 23,055 
			 Ind 2 pattern C 23,005 25,419 23,586 26,062 23,586 26,062 
			 Ind 3 pattern A 16,836 17,874 17,261 18,325 17,261 18,325 
			 Ind 3 pattern B 19,362 20,556 19,851 21,074 19,851 21,074 
			 Ind 3 pattern C 21,887 23,237 22,440 23,823 22,440 23,823 
			 Ind 4 pattern A 14,862 16,177 15,237 16,587 15,237 16,587 
			 Ind 4 pattern B 17,092 18,604 17,523 19,076 17,523 19,076 
			 Ind 4 pattern C 19,321 21,031 19,089 21,564 19,809 21,564 
			 Ind 5 pattern A 14,000 15,314 14,353 15,700 14,353 15,700 
			 Ind 5 pattern B 16,100 17,612 16,506 18,055 16,506 18,055 
			 Ind 5 pattern C 18,200 19,909 18,659 20,410 18,659 20,410 
			  Note: The figures (shown in £ sterling) do not include location, unsocial hours or other allowances, overtime or other additional payments. 
		
	
	The pay and allowances of operational grades within HM Prison Service (officers and operational managers) is subject to annual review by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). The pay and allowance of other grades are set through collective bargaining.
	Vacancy data were not collated centrally or subject to full data assurance until recently although the information was created in local business units. Reliable data available nationally show that the number of vacancies across prisons and NOMS headquarters, reported on 31 March 2009, was 2,564. Data from earlier years could be collected only by requesting information from a large number of business units, which would entail disproportionate cost.
	Recruitment policies within the Prison Service and NOMS have undergone significant change to use information technology better and administer processes through a shared service centre. As a result most of the pre and post assessment recruitment activity takes place on line and has been centralised. Prison officers are the largest group of staff recruited, reflecting increases in prison capacity, and recruitment activity for this group of staff has been streamlined so that application and initial testing occurs on-line followed by a single day assessment event that includes work based simulations and a fitness test.
	All new prison officers appointed on or after 1 October 2009 are subject to new terms and conditions based on a 37 hour week with associated new rates of pay. There are two paybands for new Prison Officers, depending on the role undertaken. All new Prison Officers start employment in the Prison Officer 2 core officer role in the lower payband.
	The total appointment salary for new appointments in Prison Officer 2 roles is £17,1871. This is composed of £14,690 base pay plus £2,497 for unsocial hours working. This rate may be reviewed by the PSPRB as part of their annual review of Prison Service salaries. These new staff may elect to work up to four additional hours on top of the standard 37 net hours per week. These additional hours will be paid at an enhanced rate to reflect they are non-pensionable. In parts of the country, officers will receive a location allowance also.

Secure Accommodation: Secure Training Centres

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the maximum capacity is of each  (a) secure children's home,  (b) secure training centre and  (c) young offender institution; what the occupancy rate of each is; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The following table shows the number of contracted places at each  (a) secure children's home (SCH),  (b) secure training centre (STC), and  (c) young offender institution (YOI) in the under-18 secure estate. The occupancy rate of each, as at 9 October 2009, is shown as a percentage. Data have been provided by the Youth Justice Board and have been drawn from administrative computer systems.
	
		
			   Contracted places  Occupancy rate (percentage) 
			  SCHs   
			 Aldine House 4 50 
			 Atkinson Unit 3 67 
			 Aycliffe 30 73 
			 Barton Moss 20 85 
			 Clayfields House 12 100 
			 Eastmoor 34 97 
			 Hillside 15 93 
			 Kyloe House 3 67 
			 Lincolnshire 9 100 
			 Redbank 28 86 
			 Swanwick Lodge 12 92 
			 Vinney Green 21 79 
			
			  STCs   
			 Hassockfield 58, 62 
			 Medway 76 76 
			 Oakhill 80 91 
			 Rainsbrook 87 79 
			
			  YOIs   
			 Contracted Places Occupancy rate (%)  
			 Ashfield 400 69 
			 Brinsford 112 90 
			 Castington 168 86 
			 Cookham Wood 157 62 
			 Downview 16 88 
			 Eastwood 16 100 
			 Feltham 240 85 
			 Foston Hall 16 100 
			 Hindley 440 76 
			 Huntercombe 360 64 
			 New Hall 26 73 
			 Parc 64 97 
			 Stoke Heath 202 63 
			 Warren Hill 222 94 
			 Werrington 160 84 
			 Wetherby 408 83

Solicitors Regulation Authority

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases have been processed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in each year since its creation; and how many such cases resulted in  (a) no further action decision and  (b) sanctions against a solicitor.

Bridget Prentice: The information I have received from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) states that over 18,000 investigations have been concluded since its creation in January 2007. This breaks down as follows:
	
		
			  Date  Number of cases 
			 2007 (1)6,883 
			 2008 (2)7,341 
			 2009 (January to June) (3)3,838 
			 (1) A monthly average of 573.6 (2) A monthly average of 611.8 (3) A monthly average of 639.7 
		
	
	Where regulatory action is deemed appropriate, outcomes for these investigations can be categorised in one of three ways. First a sanction may be applied with no action required or secondly the case may be referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal or thirdly a case is closed due to ongoing action elsewhere. The SRA has provided me with a break down of sanctions against solicitors for this period. These are as follows:
	
		
			   Number regulatory action required  Percentage of cases  Sanction applied  Percentage of cases  Disciplinary referral/ongoing action  Percentage of cases 
			 2007 5,257 76 960 14 666 10 
			 2008 5,750 78 784 11 807 11 
			 2009(1) 2,956 77 408 11 474 12 
			 (1) January to June

Solicitors Regulation Authority

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of time taken by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to determine a case was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The information I have received from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) states that, based on a total number of 3,838 cases closed between January and June 2009, standard cases were closed within 3.1 months on average. This includes time taken for referral for adjudication where necessary.
	The SRA has further explained that, where allegations are assessed as being high-risk, and it is deemed necessary to do so, field-based investigations may be undertaken. Based on 211 such investigations concluded between January and June 2009, these cases took an average of 9.8 months from authorisation to completion, including the issue of a report where necessary. In addition, 11 extremely complex cases were concluded within this period, taking an average of 16.0 months to complete.

Solicitors Regulation Authority

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of time is between the determination of a case by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and its conclusion by adjudication in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The information I have received from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) states that cases adjudicated upon internally are dealt with either by an individual adjudicator or a panel of adjudicators. Over 1,000 adjudications took place in between January and June 2009. Decisions by an individual adjudicator had a turnaround time of 23 days on average (0.8 months). An adjudication panel decision took an average of 34 days (1.1 months).
	Matters referred for disciplinary proceedings may be combined with others into single cases brought before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT). It takes an average of 184 days (6.0 months) to put these cases together, and the SDT then aims to schedule a hearing within six months of issue of proceedings.

Unpaid Fines

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was outstanding in unpaid fines to the courts in the latest year for which figures are available; and from how many people.

Bridget Prentice: At the end of the 2008-09 financial year there was a total of £545 million outstanding in unpaid financial penalties across England and Wales. Her Majesty's Courts Service systems do not identify the number of individuals to which the outstanding balance relates. The outstanding balance has risen through the application of a strict policy that only allows fines to be written off in certain circumstances. The outstanding balance includes fines imposed a number of years ago during the period when fines could not be cancelled (2004-06) and fines which are being paid by instalments.
	The national payment rate for financial penalties at the end of the 2008-09 financial year was 85 per cent. and 71 per cent. excluding the value of administrative cancellations.
	HMCS is currently implementing the 'Criminal Compliance and Enforcement Services-A Blueprint for 2008 to 2012' which was launched in July 2008 and is currently being implemented by all of the HMCS regions. The blueprint sets out HMCS's strategic objective which is for a cheaper, faster and more proportionate system that primarily focuses on 'first time' compliance while continuing to apply the principles of rigorous enforcement to the hard core of defaulters.

Young Offenders: Restraint Techniques

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the documentation relating to Adapted C & R piloted in Feltham and Cookham Wood Young Offender Institutions in May 2006 and as referred to in paragraph 8.30 of the 2008 Independent Review of Restraint in Juvenile Secure Settings.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 181W.
	A pilot of juvenile restraint techniques (JRT) for use on young people (15-17 year olds) commenced in May 2006. An interim evaluation report was produced in April 2007 and I have arranged for a copy of this to be placed in the House of Commons Library. Shortly after the completion of this report, the "Independent Review of the Use of Restraint in Juvenile Secure Settings" was announced and a decision was taken to suspend further work on JRT pending the outcome of the review.
	The Government's response to the independent review was published in December 2008 and part of this announced the development of a more comprehensive system of restraint for young people as part of a wider behaviour management system. Piloting of this new system of restraint is expected to begin early next year.

Young Offenders: Restraint Techniques

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the Prison Service review into the case for extending the use of the baton to young people's estates, as referred to in paragraph 8.39 of the 2008 Independent Review of Restraint in Juvenile Secure Settings.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 181W.
	I have arranged for a copy of the Prison Service report, "Review of the Potential Use of the Baton in the Young People's Estate" to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Administration of Justice: Translation Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the National Framework Agreement on arrangements for the use of interpreters, translators and language service professionals within the criminal justice system applies to Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 July 2009,  Official Report, column 656W.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Heating

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many buildings which will be used for the London 2012 Olympics will use heat generated by  (a) solar panels and  (b) ground source heat pumps.

Tessa Jowell: There are no plans to use solar panels or ground source heating pumps to heat the venues on the Olympic Park. Heat for these buildings will be provided from a purpose built Energy Centre and Community Energy Network. The Energy Centre comprises biomass boilers fuelled by renewable wood pellets and is designed to capture enough heat during the electricity production process to supply heating and hot water to all the buildings on the Olympic Park.
	These measures are part of the Olympic Delivery Authority's strategic approach to energy supply on the Olympic Park, which seeks to achieve the ambitious target that carbon emissions from the built environment in the Park should be reduced by 50 per cent., against 2006 standards' levels, by 2013. The strategic approach includes designing permanent venues to make them 15 per cent. more energy efficient than the 2006 Building Regulations require and building a wind turbine that will produce the energy equivalent to supplying 1,000 homes over an average year.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Greater London

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has made an assessment of the likely environmental impact of an airport located in the Thames Estuary.

Paul Clark: Options for offshore or coastal airports were considered extensively in the work leading to the Air Transport White Paper in 2003. A summary assessment of their impacts was presented in the report 'Development of Airport Capacity in the Thames Estuary', December 2003, available on the Department for Transport website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/air/docs/lopmentofairportcapacity5669.pdf

Gatwick Airport

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the Government's role is in establishing the future  (a) operation and  (b) ownership of Gatwick Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Gatwick is a designated airport under the Airports Act 1986 and as such its future operation is a matter for its operator and the Civil Aviation Authority.
	The sale of Gatwick airport was required by the Competition Commission following its investigation into the supply of airport services by BAA. The Competition Commission's requirements for any new owner of Gatwick were set out in detail in its report (which was published on 19 March 2009). These include that it should have appropriate expertise and financial resources to operate and develop the airport, as well as a sufficient degree of independence from BAA.
	The sale is a commercial matter for BAA subject to it satisfying the Competition Commission's requirements. The Government have no formal role in the transaction and have no statutory powers to intervene in it. Department for Transport officials have ensured that the various bidders for the airport have had equal access to information on the regulatory context and broader aviation policy framework as it affects Gatwick. Officials have also shared information on these matters with the Competition Commission to assist in the Competition Commission's formal consideration of the suitability of various bidders.
	BAA has challenged the legality of certain of the Competition Commission's findings, and its appeal is due to be heard by the Competition Appeals Tribunal on 19-21 October.

Northern Rail: Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons the number of new rail carriages originally planned for Northern Rail has been reduced.

Chris Mole: No decision has yet been made on the total number of vehicles that Northern Rail should add to its train fleet. The Department for Transport is currently working with Northern Rail on a first phase of additional rolling stock to address overcrowding issues.

Parking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether revenue raised by local authorities from  (a) on-street parking charges and  (b) parking fines is ring-fenced.

Sadiq Khan: The revenue raised from on-street parking charges must be used in accordance with Section 55 (as amended) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which limits the use of surplus funds to transport related objectives or for environmental purposes.
	Local authorities in England operating under the Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) regime issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for parking contraventions. The revenue raised from PCNs must also be used in accordance with Section 55 (as amended) of that Act. Where the local authority has not taken on the CPE powers under the Traffic Management Act 2004 to enforce parking contraventions, enforcement is carried out under criminal law by the Police who issue parking fines for parking offences. The revenue raised from parking fines goes to the Treasury.

Railway Stations: Ticket Offices

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many non-Transport for London railway station ticket offices in each London borough have  (a) been closed and  (b) had opening hours reduced in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not hold this information in the form requested. Full details of National Rail ticket office opening hours are listed in Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) and a copy of this document, for years 2005 to 2009, has been placed in the Library of the House.
	A number of National Rail ticket offices in London have closed permanently as part of railway infrastructure improvement schemes:
	King's Cross Thameslink station where the National Rail station closed as part of the Thameslink Programme. A new station and ticket office was opened at St. Pancras International.
	Custom House, Silvertown and North Woolwich where the National Rail stations closed to enable an extension to the Docklands Light Railway to be built.

Railway Stations: Ticket Offices

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects on passenger safety of the closure of railway station ticket offices on the First Connect line through Hornsey and Wood Green; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: First Capital Connect (FCC) has followed the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement processes for changing ticket office opening hours. The Ticketing and Settlement Agreement is an inter-operator agreement which sets out, among other things, arrangements for ticket retailing. A safety assessment is not required under this Agreement.
	Since the start of the franchise FCC has invested heavily or achieved the following:
	Has achieved Secure Stations at all of their stations within the Greater London area;
	Improved relationships and joint working with the British Transport Police to manage out crime and improve response to crime.

Railways: Standards

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what records his Department holds on the number of rail services which departed stations prior to their scheduled departure time in the last 12 months; what proportion of these services arrived at their destination on time; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Data on trains which may have departed from stations before their scheduled time are not held by the Department for Transport, but by Network Rail. Please contact Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail, at the following address for this information:
	Mr. Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG
	Of all train arrivals, 91.3 per cent. arrived at their destination within the specified punctuality margin in the 12 months up to 19 September 2009.

TREASURY

Council Tax: Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2287W, on the Valuation Office Agency, on what date the Valuation Office Agency published its guidance on council tax bands and self-contained units.

Ian Pearson: Practice Note 5 of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) council tax manual contains the instructions giving guidance on council tax bands and self contained units. These instructions were published online when the VOA website was originally set up in January 2000.
	A new fact sheet designed to assist the public in understanding council tax law on self-contained units was published in May 2007 and is also available on the VOA website.

Private Finance Initiative

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to Government departments on the fair valuation of risk and risk transfer in the evaluation of bids under the private finance initiative where  (a) RBS and  (b) Lloyds Banking Group are partners in such bids.

Ian Pearson: None. Guidance on public private partnerships in general is available on the Treasury website at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_index.htm

Public Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, page 49, what his most recent estimate is of the projected levels of long-term funding for his Department in order to provide for the 2.25 per cent. real growth in the Long-Term Funding Guideline to 2018-19 set out in that document.

Liam Byrne: Departmental budgets for the next spending review period will be set in due course.

Public Expenditure: Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, page 49, what his most recent estimate is of the projected levels of spending on transport to 2018-19.

Liam Byrne: Departmental budgets for the next spending review period will be set in due course.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people would pay  (a) more,  (b) less and  (c) the same for calls to HM Revenue and Customs helplines with 0845 prefixes if they were changed to numbers with 0300 prefixes.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold this information. The cost of calls to 0845 and other non geographical numbers is dependent on several factors. Calls are charged to the customer based on the tariff arrangements they have with their service provider, the device they use for the call and the location from which they call. There are therefore many hundreds of variations of call costs.

Stamp Duties

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of only levying stamp duty on the individual dwellings in a bulk rental purchase.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: No such estimate has made.

Taxation: Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether lump sum arrears of basic state pension paid under the reinstatement of deficiency notices project are taxable; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs does not seek to assess any tax arising on arrears of state pension paid under reinstatement of deficiency notices.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data sources the Valuation Office Agency uses to determine the plot size when gathering data on a dwelling.

Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) uses digital mapping software to calculate plot size.

Valuation Office: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what records the Valuation Office Agency holds on the number of empty non-domestic properties on the Rating List.

Ian Pearson: Valuation Office records do not show whether non-domestic property entered in the rating lists in England and Wales are either occupied or unoccupied.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Government Equalities Office: Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 65 years are employed by the Government Equalities Office.

Michael Jabez Foster: The Government Equalities Office employs less than five staff over the age of 55 and none over 65 years. The Government Equalities Office does not confirm numbers less than five in order that individuals may not be identified.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people on incapacity benefit have voluntarily joined Pathways to Work in each year for which information is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 21 July 2009
	Official statistics on the number of participants in Pathways to Work are available up to January 2009, these are published at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/ib_ref_p2w.asp
	We cannot estimate the proportion of the eligible population who have volunteered for Pathways each year without incurring disproportionate cost. We do, however, hold information of the number of volunteers in each year, up to January 2009. This is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of individuals who volunteered for Pathways to Work 
			   Individual Jobcentre Plus starts  Individual Provider starts 
			 October to December 2003 500 n/a 
			 January to December 2004 7,500 n/a 
			 January to December 2005 9,210 n/a 
			 January to December 2006 11,870 n/a 
			 January to December 2007 22,390 1,960 
			 January to December 2008 13,620 61,760 
			 January to end of January 2009 710 4,570 
			  Note A person is counted once in each year, though they may appear in several years. As a result, the total number of individuals which have volunteered for Pathways since its inception cannot be derived by adding the number of individuals which have volunteered each year.  Sources: DWP Jobcentre Plus and Provider-Led databases DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.